Scrappiness...who knew?

I'm so excited to be posting scrapiness. It warms me to the core and I feel so good when I scrapbook. It's difficult for "regular" people to understand, but I know that fellow crafters know exactly where I'm coming from.

I've done yet another challenge, but actually I've done *two* challenges, they just happen to be from one blog! I discovered this blog when Sharla did one of the challenges, and for the life of me, I can never remember the name when she and I are chatting about it. "Frosted ponies?" "Painted puppies??" Ugh. But, I keep visiting the site daily, and soon it will roll off my tongue!

Here is the first challenge: The card sketch.

The sketch:



And my take on it:



Now, the second challenge: The layout sketch.

The sketch:



And my layout (I hope the colors are okay. It's evening here):



And, in true BFF fashion once again, cards for the stash:



Here are the links to the challenges:

Card challenge at Frosted Designs
Layout challenge at Frosted Designs

Check them out! Do the challenges! Remember the name! ;)

Thanks for stopping by!

A card and a challenge!

Wow, can you believe it?! Another scrappy post from me!

After I made my soccer layout the other night, I was in search of a challenge to enter. I'm rarely on my desktop computer, but for some reason, that night I was. I found the link to the Card Patterns challenge blog and decided to jump in!!

Here is the card that I made, using items from my stash. Isn't he the cutest?!



And, in true BFF fashion, I made two cards, one for my bestie:



I'm entering this card in the Card Patterns Challenge! Check 'em out!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

I actually scrapbooked!!

At the first of the year, my best friend and I had all of these good intentions regarding scrapbooking. We decided not to make too many demands on ourselves so that we had less chance of failing right away. You know where this is heading, right?

We started posting challenges to each other on our Facebook pages. One a week, from each of us, so two layouts a week. My challenge to myself was to throw in a card here and there to replenish our stashes. When Sharla and I make cards, we make two; one for each of us. It's just something we do. ;)

Well, I started out good...posted a weekly challenge on her FB page, and she posted to mine. Only, SHE did them, and I did not.

So, I decided to scrapbook tonight! And I didn't use a single challenge we posted to each other. What can you do, right?!

These are some pics I've previously posted of my girls when they were on the same high school soccer team for one season. I love them, and I love watching them play. And I kinda like the layout, too!

Thanks for looking!

Getting caught up and returning to...normal...?

I'm finally getting back into a routine after battling Valentine's Day. I get back on my normal work schedule next week.

This week I've been busy getting my laundry caught up, my house clean, and my pantry/fridge restocked!

Today in Havasu, the weather is gorgeous. Hubby and I took a walk around the island. Or, he ran and I walked (3.7 miles). It felt great! Right now the windows are open and a breeze is blowing!

I've been cooking up my meals for my diet so that I have them on hand and I'm happy that I will be prepared for the coming week so that I don't have any excuses to fall off the wagon!!

I'm itching to get into my scraproom tonight, so hopefully I will have some scrappy goodness to show you soon!!

Hope you're having a wonderful Thursday!

Happy belated Valentine's Day!!

Since starting my job at the flower shop, Valentine's Day has become a bit of a blur for me. 13+ hour days, working on the actual "holiday," aggravation at "last minute men" that call at 6:30pm and want flowers delivered to their girlfriend/spouse. I'm sorry, has Valentine's not been on the SAME. DAY. since forEVAH?!?! Grrr...

But! On a crafty note, I did manage to make some adorable and easy crafts for my home! I've been trying to decorate my home with more items that I've made myself, and this is my contribution to Valentine's Day!



I had the frames that I purchased when I found them on sale. I added the patterned papers to them, and the die cuts, did some embellishing on them and added ribbon! I love them!! :)

I'm linking these up to:



Check them out! Thanks for stopping by, and I'm hoping to keep up with my blog this year!!

Happy new year...again!

I'm back!! :)

A day of "I should..."

Happy Saturday, everyone!

I'm off work today (yay!) and I really should be getting lots of things done. But instead, this is what my day has been comprised of:

"I should" be in the pool getting my tan on, but the day looks like this:

(view of the lake over my fence)



"I should" be in my scraproom cleaning...or perhaps scrapbooking?? But it looks like this:

(courtesy of my daughter making covers for her school folders, and me throwing everything random in there)



"I should" be exercising because I'm finally back on my weight loss journey, but my elliptical sits like this:

(notice how sad it looks?!)



"I should" be cleaning...yet here I sit! And no, no pictures of what I should be cleaning. That would be horrendous and CPS might show up at my house after someone calls them...

Have a great day!! :)

A card with Copics

Sort of, lol.

I have several Copic markers. I love them, I think they are purty, and well...I'm a collector. It's what I do. So I thought, hey! Let's try those puppies out!!

The stamp is one that my BFF Sharla sent to me, and I finally busted him out. Isn't he cute?! He doesn't have much room for coloring, so I just used a few of my Copics. But I DID use them, so that counts...right?! I still need lots of practice but for now, it's one on the books.



Thanks for stopping by! :)

I always say, "I never win anything..."

...but today I DID!!

I've been trying to get myself into the digi stamping scene, and trying to use all of these wonderfully yummy Copics I have been buying...yet once again I lose my motivation. So, I'm trying to boost myself by looking at some really talented ladies do their thing with digital stamps!!

I don't have a lot of room for rubber stamps, so digi stamps appeal to me much more, plus I get the whole instant gratification thing when I want to buy one. ;)

So, in browsing around on the blog of one of my FAVORITE stampers/cardmakers...AMY, I see that there are some sneak peaks at the Some Odd Girl blog. So, I check them out and decide to post my comments. I'll be the first to admit...I'm usually too lazy to log in so that I can comment, which is something I need to work on because *I* enjoy comments, so I know everyone else does too. My apologies to my blogging friends...

But I digress...

I log back in to the SOG blog and see that I have won a digi stamp!!! I love it!! He's cute, he's adorable, and he's ROCKIN' KODY!!

So, go here:

and check them out. The stamps are awesome, and the designers are amazing!!

Back with a layout!

It's been ages since I did a blog entry. Since I started working I just can't see to get myself onto a schedule...even though I only work part time. I'm the worst procrastinator EVAH, but I'm finally jumping back in today!

I haven't had any scrapping mojo in a very long time. I've made some cards sporadically, but this time I tried my hand at working a sketch. I searched a bunch of sketch sites and finally found one I could use at Page Maps. They have maps for all kinds of layouts, plus some for cards too.

Well, here is my finished layout! I followed the page map and finally scrapped some older pics of the girls and I. I forgot to put the gem above the "i" in this photo but rest assured I went back and did it. ;)



Thanks for visiting and hanging in with me!

Some organizing projects I've done

A few weeks ago, before I landed my job in the flower shop, I started on an organizing bender in my house. My mom and I had decided to have a yard sale (since postponed) and I wanted to clean out each and every drawer and closet, room and garage, so that we can make it a good one.

I thoroughly enjoy organizing. It makes me feel good, it makes me happy to do, and it makes me enjoy my house just a little bit more. I love having a place for everything and everything in its place...although I haven't recovered from the little tornado called "The Superbowl" that blew through here last weekend.

Here are just a few before and afters I did.

Medicine cabinet before:


Medicine cabinet after:


Everyday dishes cabinets before:


Everyday dishes after:


Cookbooks/recipes cabinet before:


Cookbooks/recipe cabinet after:


Caffeine cupboard before:


Caffeine cupboard after:


Spices cabinet before:


Spices cabinet after:


Pantry before (don't mind the grossness):


Pantry after:


I love having a place or a basket for everything. I also love labeling things. I'd label my kids if they stood still long enough. Labels make me happy. Containers make me happy. Baskets make me happy. These pictures make me happy. :)

Thanks for indulging my inner Martha!

What's new with me?

I got a job!!

We have a flower shop here in town that hires work during busy holidays, for answering phones and helping out in the store. I happened to go in to find out if they were hiring seasonal workers at the time, and they hired me as a customer service person in the store!! I've been working almost daily for the past two weeks, and loving it!! Once the holiday season is over (Valentine's for now), I will go to a few days a week in the store, and more as they need me. Once Mother's Day starts in, I'm back to full time! I enjoy it very much, and love all of the people that work there!

It's been a challenge trying to figure out how to balance my household stuff and get myself back into the working world. I've been home for a very long time, and it's taking me a little bit to get into the swing of things. Thankfully I have very helpful children and they've helped pick up the slack. ;)

My bff Sharla has been getting into the scrapping challenges, and once I get myself on a groove, so will I!! Check out her blog and be sure to check back with me!! :)

So, yeah.

I have no reason for not blogging for so long, so I will not insult you with excuses, illnesses, family, yadda, yadda, yadda. But I'm here now!!

Shannon, one of my sickening talented friends, linked to a challenge on her Facebook page and I knew I had to participate! The Paper Variety is holding a challenge to create a layout, card, or craft piece based on this piece of inspiration:



When I saw the phrase, I instantly thought about my BFF. We live in different states but she is still as close to me and as dear to my heart as if we were next door neighbors. She's my sister from another mother, and sometimes we are so similar it's VERY scary.

So, here is my take on this phrase. As I was trying to complete this, knowing I wanted to use a photo of Sharla and I, I realized that we do not take as many pictures together as we should!! That will change in a few weeks!!!



Be sure to check out the challenge at The Paper Variety, and if you get a chance, hop on over to Shannon's blog and check out her beautiful work! I've had the honor of seeing it in person and it is fantastic!! Tell her I sent you!! :) Thanks for looking!

Crazy, non-productive weekend!!

Friday and Saturday, our Lady Knights varsity soccer team had a tournament in Kingman. My varsity player of course went, but the coaches also brought Cassidy from JV so that she could record the games on Friday and play in the games on Saturday since they would be short-handed.

It was a bummer of a tourney.

Our poor girls just didn't have it in them. They were short several seasoned varsity players, and they just couldn't pull a win out of a hat.

In the second game on Saturday, we were down to two subs when one of our goalies got injured when a girl from the other team pushed one of our girls into the goalie. Since Haley is goalie also, she had to come off the field and go into the box, which put our subs down to one. After a few more plays, there is a scuffle for the ball almost inside our net and Haley jumps on the ball. Well, one of the girls from the other team didn't stop trying to kick the ball and kicked my daughter in the nose, square between the eyes. She was down on the field for several minutes. When the athletic trainer tried to help her up, she wobbled and could not stand firm. Darrell had to run down there and carry her off the field and they took her to the training room via cart. After that, with 18 minutes left in the game, we had to forfeit. Our girls were beat.

Thankfully, Haley is doing well. She's taking it easy today.

Here are some shots of the girls, playing side by side on the varsity team. :)

We are purple. Hay is on the left upper and Cass is running with her.



My girls. *sigh* I love them



Haley in the box. LOVE her goalie jersey! It has a rib cage and inside of it are cogs and mechanical pieces since she is a MACHINE when she wears it! :)



And, because I cannot forget. Today is my wonderful husband's 43rd birthday! And he has to work. So, since we were gone for the tourney all weekend, we are having his celebration next week when everyone is home!! Happy birthday, honey!!

Some things I've made

I love to craft. But for some reason, I don't do it nearly enough. I have all the supplies, all the goods, all the motivation...but I lack the follow through. Therefore, I have totes and totes full of unfinished projects.

Awhile ago, while visiting my bff, we decided to try a few crafty things with our new-fangled Expressions that we had gotten awhileagorecently. We made a tile with just the word "family" on it from one of the cartridges. I don't have a photo of it because...well, I've been bad about photos lately.

My aunt saw the tile awhile later and wanted a few for Christmas gifts this year. Since my Expression is older now, I've had lots of practice using it. *coughcough* Sorry, something got stuck in my throat...

I dusted off my E, got some vinyl, and got to work. And this is what I came up with!!

(Again, please forgive the cell phone pics. I got a new point and shoot on Black Friday so things will be looking up!)





I love them and I think they turned out fabulous!! I think I'll make a few as gifts from me! If you get one...act surprised. ;)

Sorry for the hiatus!

When the weather cools off...so do I. Hence my hiatus from updating my blog! But my goal is to be better about updating, and actually finding interesting things to update with!!

I thought today's entry would be about weight loss. In particular, my weight loss.

I've struggled with weight in the past few years, bouncing up and down, but mostly bouncing up. I was buying bigger and bigger clothes, and becoming more and more miserable. I tried everything, and failed at every diet. I even failed at Weight Watchers...where you can eat just about anything you want. But then I found THE diet for me.

Homeopathic HCG.

When I first heard about this program a few years ago, all I knew was that it had to be done with injections. So, since I am deathly afraid of needles, it was a no brainer for me: No thanks. Then, I found out there was a homeopathic version of HCG and decided to try it. The diet itself is VERY restrictive, and I didn't tell anyone that I was doing it (except my bff) because I didn't want anyone telling me I would fail at it.

So I ordered and started.

I didn't have stellar results because in the beginning, I was still working on my self control. I had some slip ups. I had some falls on my face. But my first round I lost 15 pounds and a ton of inches. In my second round, I found it was a LOT easier, and I lost another 15lbs and got down to a comfortable 12 from a tight 14. I also went down to L (some XL) in shirts from 1X.

I am on round three right now and am having a difficult time getting back into the groove after a month long hiatus. But I'm not giving up. I've come too far and am too close to my goal. :)

Here are a few comparison pictures. I usually stay out of the lens so photos of me are hard to come by. But you can get a glimpse...

Before:

(January, 2010)


(July, 2010. Notice all of my skinny cousins?! Do you know how HARD it is to hide behind a skinny cousin?!)


And AFTER/CURRENT pics! I still have about 20-25 pounds to go, but I've come a long way!!

(November, 2010)