crazy*little*words

pardon the dust . . .

while I make a few changes around here . . . the ol' blog was starting to feel a bit stuffy and I thought I would give it a bit a facelift.  I just loved this cute little blog set - Chit Chat - from the wonderfully fabulous Shabby Miss Jenn. Totally perfect for a blog facelift, huh? So, please pardon the dust and somewhat goofy look to the bloggity blog here as I tweek some codes and add some things to make it much more user friendly {and hopefully a little simpler to navigate as I reorganize some stuff!}

As you can probably tell from the time of this post, I am a total insomniac!!  I hate those nights that I just can't get to sleep - or in may case, usually, stay asleep.  What a pain, especially with two small kiddos!

With that, I leave you with a few random pictures that were taken over the past couple of weeks.  Most of them were edited, either using PhotoShop actions from the beautiful and talented Sarah Cornish at My Four Hens Photography or Lightroom Presets from Kelsey Smith. And speaking of actions and presets - I'll be adding a new category on my sidebar just for photography fans {because I am by NO means a photog!!  wish I were!} that will have links to some very cool sites that specialize in PS Actions and LR Presets!  So be on the lookout!!

I hope y'all have a happy Tuesday {and I'm hoping I get a nap at some point!!}

she's so wonderful . . .

My sweet, lovely, dear friend - the amazingly talented Jen Wilson - made this simply adorable drawing of me after one of the "Beginnings" Challenges a few weeks ago. We were supposed to sketch a picture of ourselves - in whatever media we chose - and post it to the forums. Well, I am a HORRIBLE artist, at least with my Wacom tablet, and my scanner wasn't working for me to scan a hand drawn sketch. Anyway, after seeing Jen's awesome sketch of herself, I had to have her make one of me! So, after much anticipation, I am FINALLY posting it here for everyone to see -

Isn't that the most amazing "sketch" you have ever seen?!?!!? I was SO in love with it when she sent it and am actually going to have the full-size version printed and framed. Jen is such a wonderful person - she is the most giving, kind-hearted person that I have {n}ever met! She has the most beautiful soul and I truly honored to be her friend! So Jen, if you're reading this - I love you girl - *mwah*!

If you want to see another sketch that Jen did, check out my friend Allison's blog - Planet Alien - and see the awesome sketch Jen did for her of her utterly beautiful family.

And finally . . . I leave you with one of my most favorite pictures from Disney World - Emma and Patrick with Tinkerbell. Simply adorable!

Happy Saturday!!

fresh new look for spring . . .

Yep, it's been a while! What can I say, I am a total slacker when it comes to my blog. When I am driving Emma back and forth to school everyday, I always think of something totally creative and inspiring to write about and I get SO excited! Then, after I am home, and the house is nice and quiet and I actually HAVE time to sit down and play onlin, I can NEVER remember what it was that I wanted to say! Terrible, I know! I do keep a notebook by my bed, so if I think of something while watching TV, or reading, then I have easy access to pen and paper to jot down my thoughts. Somehow those words never make it to print, either! What I need is a little voice recorder that I can just talk into when something *pops* into my crazy, little brain - then I KNOW I would remember what to write about. Maybe. So, there are many things that I need to post about - want to see my list? Here it is:

Disney Photos - MUST post those!

Valentine's Cookies and the pictures that I took - SO CUTE!

Digital layouts that I have made, and not posted - anywhere!

Cards that I have stamped, colored, etc . . . more creative stuff!

I know there's more on the list, but those are just the ones that come to mind right now. Hopefully this weekend {Sunday, I'm sure} I will get the chance to sit down and upload pictures to sucre - and get my favorite gelato, Nectar! It's sooooo good! My favorite snowball flavor now in a gelato - how awesome is that? They also have the most amazing chocolates and candies - and wedding cakes! Oh my, serious indulgence, but oh so worth it!

On to scrapping news - Jen Wilson has an AWESOME sale going on this weekend - everything in the store is 50% OFF! Can you believe? Here's a little sneak peek ad:

If there are things that you have been eyeing over in the shoppe, this is the weekend to *stock up* and get everything you've been wishing for!! These sales only happen a few times each year - so prepare your PayPal accounts {and your husbands!} and head on over for some fabulous shopping!

And finally . . . something sweet that I found when looking for an avi for my Twitter page. I love supcakes, Ask anyone who knows me and they know that my most favorite dessert is a cupcake. They are simply adoreable, and so totally edible in their cute, little, compact design! So, with that I leave you with a photo of the cutest springy cupcakes, ever!

Have a wonderful Friday everyone and a fabulous weekend!!

have you seen . . .

the new Totally Girl and Complete Boy lines at JWD?? If you haven't, you must head on over and take a look! I know I say this everytime Jen releases a new line, but this may just be my new favorite!! I think there will be five sets in each line - including papers and elements, as well as some amazing QP's by April and those yummy *Printables* from Kelleigh! They are total must-have's for your scrapping wardrobe! And just in case you didn't know - Jen's amazing papers turn out beautifully when printed on matte photo paper - so now you can get BOTH your digi and paper fix with JWD!!

In other news, I have been in a serious scrapping funk lately! I have SO many JWD CT assignments to catch up on, as well as various other paper projects that I am either working on, or wanting to, that I am beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed! With srpring right around the corner, catching up now would be a great thing, since I know there will be LOTS of new products and projects that I will definitely want to get/do!!

By the way, Happy Mardi Gras! Today is the day that my hometown celebrates one of its biggest traditions - filled with colorful beads, coins, cups, AND people! Although I swore off Mardi Gras years ago, for the first time in a very long time, I actually missed not being in New Orleans for all of the festivities! Maybe now that the little ones are a bit older, and could enjoy the parades, I feel like it wouldn't be THAT bad to partake in the excitement. There's always next year . . .

I still have MANY photos to post from Scott's Retirement Ceremony and our trip to Disney World a few weeks ago. I am hoping to get those edited by the weekend and will post some here on the blog very soon! The kids had a blast at Disney! Even though it absolutely poured the day we went to Epcot, and Orlando had record-breaking low temps on the last two days we were there, it did NOT stop us! More about the trip once I get the photos posted - I promise!!

That's it for today. I promised Scott that I would work on tweeking his resume for him so that it will look "more marketable" - whatever that means! Hope your week is going well and I'll see you soon!

and before I forget . . .

here's the new Laundry Basket Challenge from JWD

Now go and scrap . . . you won't regret it!!!

a little addendum . . .

I just wanted to give Emilly {a.k.a. skrpbkmom} credit - I scraplifted her layout, The Backyardigans for the Day 1 Challenge over at CRD.  Sooooo, go check it out and leave her some love!!!

my, oh my . . .

Today was the Grand Opening of Christina Renee's new store - and man what an opening!! The entire day the server has been SWAMPED with everyone trying to get into the store and shop!! Everything in the store is 30% off {which is AWESOME!} and she has some really cool new items, as well as her "older" stuff. My favorite new thing is the collab kit that she did with The Shabby Princess called "French Countryside." It is just beautiful and very grungy/shabby!! Here's a peek -

I hope you get a chance to stop by and see all of the awesome goodies she has {and the sale has been extended until NEXT Tuesday, July 17th, because of the server issues!}

I really need to do some rearranging on this blog - new header, new colors, some more *BLING*!!! Hopefully in the next day or two I will get around to that. Stay tuned . . .

It's WAY late, and I need to get to bed. Hope you have a good one, and I will see ya tomorrow!

a neat little challenge . . .

Not much for today. I did manage to get a layout completed - yay!! It's for this neat little challenge over at Jen Wilson Designs. Here are some details for this week's challenge {Week #2} -

Sounds really cool, right??? So, do you want to see my take on the challenge?? Do you?? Do you??  Okay, here it is {I had a hard time trying to leave some "white space"}  I really wanted to keep adding "schtuff" -

Credits can be found here.

Okay, I said not much for today. A little challenge info and a layout {which also included a picture from Patrick's birthday!} Hope you have a wonderful night and I'll see ya tomorrow!

finally . . .

Can I just say, "I finally have my groove back!!!" This is the first layout I have done in over a MONTH! I cannot believe it has taken me so long to get back into it. I love the picture of Emma and her wild hair - dancing around her room.

Credits can be found here

The inspiration for it came from the latest Hodge Podge Art challenge. The idea was to use colors that are not in your comfort zone {or at least not in your last 5 layouts!} The last ones I had done were all soft, subtle colors from the One Haute Momma kit from Jen Wilson. This one is VERY bright and cheerful. I really love the Little Miss kit from Amanda Rockwell. It is the one I got with my GC that she sent to me as a RAK over at DST. The colors are so fun and I love the flower stickers. Very girly and fun! Thanks Amanda!!

Okay, it's past my bedtime and I need some sleep! Sweet dreams if you're reading this tonight! Hope you have a fun Sunday!

lots of digi stuff . . .

Oh my has it been a while! Things are so crazy these days, with the older girls out of school for the summer - I feel like we are always doing something. I have missed blogging and there are SO many things that I have to tell - and lots of fun stuff to show, too!!! I am not sure if you have visited The Shabby Shoppe recently, or not, but they are having a FABULOUS Belated Birthday Bash going right now {until June 10th!} Everything is 25% off and if you spend $10 or more you get a wonderful Birthday Bash Grab Bag filled with all kinds of goodies!!

Isn't this the coolest Grab Bag?!?!?!?!And here are a few more things that I picked up {or am eyeing!}

In other digi news . . . have you seen the latest creations from Christina Renee?? They are AWESOME!!! Actually, the best is this AWESOME kit that she gave away for free for those who stalk - I mean admire - her and her work!! No, seriously, for those who read her blog faithfully {are semi-faithfully, in my case since I don't read blogs everyday - GASP!!!} she made this kit, called "Lil FAN-fare" and it is gorgeous!!!

Can you even believe it was free??? Just for reading and commenting on her blog - I am still amazed! Here is another one of her new items in the store that I am loving at the moment

Those grids are so cool and very "IN" at the moment and I am totally loving them!! This next one is new, and I don't think it is in the store yet {I haven't seen it!!} But it is too cool to pass up -

Told you they are cool! I love paint swashes and I love glitter, so these are going to SO be used on my pages!!!

Okay, I guess that's it for now. At least for digi stuff, anyway!! I have TONS more to blog about and will post more later!! Hope you're having a great week. It's almost FRIDAY!!! Yay!! See you soon!

a very special cause . . .

I am not sure how many of you like to scrapbook {especially digitally!} but there is a really awesome website - Songbird Avenue - that has a beautiful new digital kit out. It's called Petites Fleurs and when I say it is beautiful - it is BEAUTIFUL!! Take a look -

The main reason I am advertising a little here is that ALL of the proceeds from ALL of their items go to charity. This is the new kit for the month of June, and 100% of the proceeds will be given to the American Diabetes Association. Most of you that know me know that I have Type 1 diabetes, and have had it for most of my life {30 years in October.} It's not something that I often talk about, or bring up in a conversation, but it has certainly affected my life and that of my family. It's a serious illness that can have serious complications - including heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and even death - and it affects a large portion of our society, many of them children and young adults.

I was so thrilled when I saw that the charity this month was the ADA, that I had to spread the word about this. Last month, they raised over $3000 for the March of Dimes! $3000!! Can you imagine? All from selling beautiful artwork that SO many people use {even if you only paper scrap, you can still use digital items!} So, if you have $8.00 to spare this month, please stop by Songbird Avenue and pick up this beautiful kit and help out this amazing charity!!! Thanks so much for taking the time to read this, and if you have an extra minute, please pass this along by posting it on your blog, on your MySpace page, or even in an e-mail.

ahhhh . . .

Mondays are so fun - NOT!  Actually, today wasn't so bad.  I managed to finish my layout for the "One Haute Momma" challenge Day 3!  Take a look -

M is for . . . Credits can be found here.

Other than that, the only thing I have done today is laundry and I started to pack for our trip. Only 3 more days!! I am so excited! I have been trying to make reservations for Mother's Day brunch, and I have been completely unsuccessful, because all of the places we want to go don't take reservations {at least not for Mother's Day!} Oh well, I guess we'll be standing in line for a bit!

That's it for now, I may be back later! Hope you're having a great Monday!

National Scrapbook Day . . .

Soooooo, it's FINALLY here!! It's National Scrapbook Day and WOW! There are SO many cool sales and events going on around the digi world, it's hard to keep it all straight! For starters, you must RUN, not walk over to Jen Wilson Designs and check out her new OverSTUFFed kit, One Haute Momma!

This is ONE HOT KIT{and there's a nice little surprise from Shutterfly in there, too!!!! AND . . . to add to the excitement, there's an awesome little contest going on that is sure to get your creative juices flowing -

I know I posted about it in a previous blog entry, but it was SO worth posting again, because it's so awesome!!  AND . . . there is another little "Scavenger Hunt" going on, and if you collect all of the pieces like this

you will have yourself one BEAUTIFUL little mini-kit called "Find Your Passion."  How cool is that!!! Oh, and don't forget, if you received The Creative Touch newsletter, you have a nice little coupon in there for today only!!!  So go use it!

Now, I know that Funky Playground and Gina Miller are both having HUGE sales today in the stores, with lots of "bonus buys" too! So, go check out the digi scrap world, and enjoy National Scrapbook Day - and scrap a page or two with all of those goodies you're gonna get!!!

{I'm off to eat pancakes that Miss Emma made for breakfast this morning!! Yummy!!}

edit . . .

Just wanted to say that TypePad is being really *DUMB* right now, and won't let me edit anything from my last post!  Sooooo . . . . I apologize for any spelling or grammactical errors {I have tried ENDLESSLY to change them - and center the Clinique pic - to no avail!! *bleck!!*} 

sick . . . again!

It's baaaack! The stomach bug, that is. Can I say just how much I HATE the stomach bug! This will about round 6 or 7 with this little past, and I am so sick of Emma vomiting in the middle of the night {the crying and screaming is gut wrenching!} Not to mention the sleepless nights and loads of laundry that get backed up because of it. And, to top it off, I am getting sick. My allergies have been so bad this spring {with the lack of rain and excess pollen, it is killing me!} Tomorrow I am going to the doctor {finally - I called to get a script for some meds and they said I needed to come in - I called last Monday - but the first appt they had was tomorrow, because my doc was out last week - typical, and this is a civilian doc!} Hopefully they give me something really strong to wipe out this crud and keep the allergies in check. Sooo, I am starting to feel worse just sitting here, so I think I am going to take a bath and get to bed early. Since I had no sleep last night and feel yuck tonight, I should sleep good. Let's hope! No cute pics today, or layouts. Hopefully I will be up and running tomorrow! Good night for today!