February at GBC

OK, I know I am biased about the kits at Go.Be.Creative, but Lainey has really hit the mark with this month's Rosemary Kit! You can check out the new kit, sign up to get it to come to your door, and come hang out at the site!

I had a blast playing with it. Here is what I got done! I have ONE more to go, but kids, homework, dinner, etc kinda pulled me away from the table!

And I QUOTE

TIME

and my Valentine's for my loves

I also created a canvas class using this month's kit. You can check it out HERE on the site's blog. If you make the canvas this month, your name will go into a hat, if you use this month's kit, your name goes in the hat TWICE!

TAGGED... again!

Lainey tagged me...so here it goes...



Here are the rules:

1. You have to post the rules before you give your answers.

2. You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name).

3. After you are tagged, you need to update your blog with your middle name and your answers.

4. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and that they need to read your blog for details.)



My middle name: Brooke

B - Bashful... I really am! Once I know you though, you won't get me to shut up!

R - Romantic (hopeless actually)... Luckily I am married to someone that buys into it on most days!

O - Optimistic... I do try to look for the best in people... and sometimes I actually even find it! See... glass is always HALF-FULL!

O - Ornery... Because CASSIE said so!

K - Kooky... There are just little things that I wonder about my own self sometimes.

E - Energetic... a definite morning AND night person! And when I get that second wind... watch out!



I am tagging the following SIX people:

Cassie, Lyn Marie, Jeanne, Gretchen, Amy, and Lisa!

Give it a shot...

My "For the LOVE of Canvas" class has been posted over at the GBC Blog! Check it out HERE! I hope you decide to give it a shot! They are FUN to make, and so easy too!

I never got around to posting these lovelies... Yep... that is Mom and me with Stacy Croninger of Paper Crafts and Elizabeth Kartchner, CK's Scrapbooker of the Year!

I have tons of projects, layouts, and cards to upload... maybe I can do that tomorrow! Progress reports go out tomorrow, so I am under a timing crunch! Off to grade more essays!

Lights Out!

me!

Whatcha think?

I made this place a NEW banner... thanks to the friendly people over at Flickr... found the letters I liked and pieced them all together!

While we were at Mom's over the New Year I took the kids out for some individual photo shoots! Then Miss Cassie walked me through some steps in Photoshop... so... now I have really fun shots for the frames over my bed!

This is E's TWELVE year old shot...

This is one of the non-goofy shots of T... The one I actually framed I don't have on this computer! Not sure why!

And I caught T checking out the sites with his new binoculars! Can't wait to scrap THIS one!

It is on the tail end of hump day... only two more days of the week... And one week from Friday Mom and I are CKC bound! I can't wait! A full day of scrapping, learning, shopping, playing, and Mom!

Lights Out!

me

Accept...

OK, two years in a row Ali Edwards has done her word post. It really is quite overwhelming... last year TOO much. This year, I perused the list and decided to just watch what Ali et al does with these words... until ACCEPT popped off of my screen! It really didn't look any different than any of the other words at first glance, but it seemed to be following me throughout the list!

So... I am going to attempt to ACCEPT this year!

I need to ACCEPT that:

I am NOT neat! I love to organize, but have problems staying organized

I will always have to work! I will never be able to be a stay-at-home-mom/scrapper...

I can not scrap 24/7! I have a life, love, kids, that need me more than my photos sometimes!

I have to work hard at being a great teacher! Kids change... I need to focus on learning not just teaching!

I am the best mom that I know how to be! I don't always do it right, but I always have their interest at heart!

I am the best wife that I know how to be! And I will always be loved for that.

I am me! I will always be me, and this is who I am as a person.

I can not change things! As much as I try, there are things in this world that I can just not change! I do not have powers to fix the things that are beyond my immediate "world!"

And I will learn to ACCEPT this for all that I am! And I am OK with this!

Lights Out!
me

The BIG Sixteen...

This happened SIXTEEN years ago today! What a whirlwind of years it has been! I love you, Baby!

Wasn't completely using my head when I told E that she could have a friend spend the night! Oh well... Then we are ordering pizza... the funny thing... there is a story in there! We didn't get anything to eat at our reception, so we called room service as soon as we got to the hotel! It was closed and Dominoes was the ONLY thing that would deliver! Our very first "meal" as a married couple... Pizza... so I think it is great that that is what we are having tonight! Ahhh

Lights Out!

me!

Happy Holidays...

And a Happy New Year from US!

Lights Out!

me

How is THIS to put you in the Christmas spirt?

Conversation between myself and a very sleepy/grumpy five-year-old!

Me: We are going to see Santa tomorrow, what are you going to ask him for Christmas? (prompting, as E and I are going shopping this afternoon)

T: Nothing!

Me: Nothing? You don't want anything for Christmas?

T: No!

Me: Well, that should be easy for the elves to make.

Pulling into the parking lot a few minutes later!

T: Mom, I figured out what I want for Christmas!

Me: Oh yeah, what is that!

T: A new Mommy! You are mean!

Merry Christmas to ME! Things can only get better, right?

Lights Out!
me

I know it is sappy...

But I just LOVE those feel-good-everyone-ends-up-happy Christmas movies! I just do! I can't believe how many there are... watched a CUTE one (despite moaning) about a little boy that wanted a husband for his mom! Just CUTE! Sappy cute! Know what I mean!

And I know he won't see this, but I wanted to wish my **baby** brother a very happy birthday! Still on a boat doing what he loves! I love you!

Lights Out!
me

Monday Musings...

This is my LAST Monday teaching in the 2007 school year! Glass is always HALF FULL! For the half empty part... I haven't even BEGUN to get our Christmas Shopping done! What to do about that? Take a SHOPPING DAY! And that is exactly what I plan to do! Tomorrow, I am dropping the kidlets off... and hitting the road with Mom!

I won a GC to Starbucks today at lunch, so my plan... meet Mom for a warm-me-up first thing in the morning (my treat), go over our game plan, and hit the road running! It is an hour plus away, so I have to be heading home by 4PM at the latest! Let's see what we can get accomplished! The key here... game plan! Shopping, eating, laughing, chatting... just hanging out with Mom! What a great day!

Dropped my altered calendar off at the lss... it is going to be a GREAT class, and you get to pick your papers! That way it matches YOUR space and not mine! I will add a photo when I have it with me, it is on my home computer!

Had a nice quiet weekend. Didn't get a lot created, but had good solid family time! Always a plus! And I got my butt beat AGAIN at Scrabble! Why is that NOT a surprise?

OK, off to work on that game plan!

Lights Out!
me

Travisism...

OK, so on the way to school this morning, we are chatting that it is the weekend, and what needs to be done, what we want to get done, etc.

Mom: We need to go see the fat man this weekend...

T: Who is that?

Mom: The fat man in the red suit...

T: Captain Underpants? (You mean you all don't READ that series?)

Mom: No... the fat man in the red suit that says HO HO HO!

T: Santa?

Mom: Yes!

T: You can't call him fat, Mom. That is just RUDE!

Gotta love it when you learn manners from a five year old! Guess my kid really is learning to mind his P's and Q's. Sorry, Santa... I guess that wasn't very nice of me!

Need him to write his letter, and go visit Santa!

Wish I had a photo to post with his words!

Lights Out!
me

Flakey Fruitcake...

is my "elf name"! Have you found yours? Check out this site to see what your cool elf name is! Post a comment to let me know what your elf name is! These are so funny!

Blog Things has so many fun Christmas goodies right now! What would we do with out internet and people as bored as we are? Thanks Lyn for getting me hooked as well!

Most of the cards should be reaching their destinations... Thanks for all the sweet thoughts and emails about our little family!

Lights Out...
Flakey!

A little closer...

to Christmas around our house... the tree is UP! Our cards were sent out, so I will post the "perfect" family Christmas photo in a few days! T said that he just "loves the tree this year! It matches the wall (our wall is red), the snowman, the stockings, and the furniture perfectly!"

Made the kids' Christmas gifts this weekend as well! With middle school comes MANY more teachers! We passed them out today, so that they had time to enjoy them for the season!

A few years ago, I made coasters with leaves on them... so I had to make some alternative gifts this year for some of my colleagues! E and I visited our new little LSS and she showed us the joy of Alcohol Inks... I had always been afraid of these little things... not anymore! E had a blast with these!

Here is a close up of the one we are keeping!

Nothing cute or funny to say today!

Lights Out!

Me!

Let the Countdown begin...

Found this little number at Starbucks... Thanks Lyn for idea and inspiration. It was a cute little red tree to count down the days till Christmas. It WAS cute... now it is adorable! Well, at least I think so... Here is a close up of the drawers!Each drawer pulls out to reveal a sweet little piece of chocolate (Note to Starbucks... Try Hershey's next year... this year is... ummm... well... NOT Hersheys!)

House is decorated... Snowmen are up... Cards are DONE and ready to mail... and I have been an altering little fool! Have another little project that just needs a frame... it matches this Advent Calendar perfectly! Joy seems to be the word of choice around the household! Wait until you SEE the Christmas photo... I will wait until about a week after the cards go out, I don't want to spoil the photo in the cards...

Lights Out!
me

OH MY!

So... I decided to give ONE more DT call a try! I had lurked on their site for some time, and really liked what I saw... so I went for it... after MUCH pushing from Cass! So... six weeks later, and I feel like I have gotten to know the ladies pretty well, but knowing that she is inundated with entries, and only needed TWO... I didn't feel good about it, YET again!

But, as I was scrubbing my little potties last night, the phone call came! I almost collapsed! I am now a PROUD DT MEMBEr of the cutest little kit club called Go. Be Creative.

I can't wait to design with these great kits. We start in January! Her December kit is HOT, but sadly it is already sold out! If you get a chance head on over there and check them out!

Wow... I am still in shock, and am thrilled that they chose me! I feel like a kid in a candy store...

Lights Out

Me!

Twelve?

My baby turned TWELVE today! TWELVE! Twelve years ago, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl! She was healthy, she was LOUD, she was beautiful! Twelve years later, and she is still the very same!

So many thoughts pouring through my brain right now, but for now... I am just so very proud and happy to be the mom to this little lady!

I love you, Baby Girl!

Lights Out

me

The Mojo is visiting...

It is official, I am now a proud scrapping member of the design team for A Scrap Affair, our new lss down the street from me... can you say FOUR miles? Anyway, I went in to sign my contract, and they gave me the goodies to work with... The Christmas line from Love, Elsie and the Charlotte line from Scenic Route!

When I got home, my mojo was visiting! I have been so busy! There are two cards that I made but the photos didn't turn out. I also have another layout I am trying to work out! But here are the three layouts and clipboard I did!

and...

Celebrate Life

You

Clipboard

I hope to get many more projects done this week! Mom is coming in tomorrow for the day and night. Off to shop, scrap, and play!

Lights Out!
me

NINE DAYS!

Yep, count them... Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and SUNDAY! I am off for ALL of those days!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! From my Pilgrim to yours...

Lights out!

me

Where do I begin?

Lightning round... Question... What have I been up to? Answer...

Egypt

Basketball

Scrappy Arts

A Scrap Affair

Oh, did you want details? hmmm that will take a bit more time, and photos!

Egypt ~ E has a project due Thursday on Egypt! She decided to create the Sphinx. This has consumed a minimum of TWO weekends! The project plus book was DONE as of Sunday night, just waiting for transport to school! Yahooooo!

Basketball ~ Our first game was last night, and even if the score wasn't pretty, the girls were adorable! I am catching on to all that is basketball! I don't get it! Wasn't my sport! Does she PLAY my sport! NOPE! So I just sit and cheer when the other parents do!

Scrappy Arts ~ We are having a fun November contest. Come check out the homepage and see what it is! I KNOW you have stories out there... come share them with us!

A Scrap Affair ~ And FINALLY... the grand finale of it all! I am so stoked. The new LSS (A Scrap Affair) down the stree from my house (literally FOUR miles) asked me to teach AND be on their design team! I hope I can do them proud! They are a cute store and the sisters that own the store are just the cutest things!

And... in case anyone was wondering... way back in my tagged post where I said I had my mammogram... It is perfect! Now go make the appointment for YOURS! Do it for your family!

Now, if you aren't bored enough... wake up enough to comment, and then...

Lights Out

me

Thinking...

It is funny, but today is a weird day. I am sad, proud, worried, and concerned. Probably quite a few more feelings I can't put names to. My BABY BROTHER shipped out yesterday. He is a helicopter pilot for the Marines, and he has been shipped out to protect this wonderful country we call home! I am sad that he will be put in harm's way! I am proud that he is doing this for those of us benefitting our freedom! I am worried for his wife and our mom! I am concerned for not knowing the future!

My brother was BORN to do this. He was born and raised a military "brat" and knew early on that this was the life for him. He is living his dream! I know he will be safe, use his head, and come home to us! But I do feel bad for his wife and our mom! Kerri is from a small town here in Texas and is now away from her loved ones while her husband is gone! Think of her!

All for now...

Lights Out!

me