crazy*little*words

just a few . . .

words for today!!  My fellow JWD CT members will get a kick out of this post!!  LOL!!!  I have been running around all day. The little ones had appointments this AM at 9:30 - and there was some chaos on the main {i.e. ONLY} road/highway going to the base, so needless to say we were late. Then I had to haggle them to see us - even though EVERYONE else was late, too {and it was the stupid military doing bombing exercises that closed the stupid road to begin with!} Sometimes I despise the military, LOL!! Then I had an appt this afternoon - which was short, sweet, and to the point {literally, a shot in my a$$!!!} But hopefully that will have me feeling better once and for all, along with yet another round of antibiotics and some good cough medicine {here's where I love the military, because my drugs cost me nothing!} Then I went to the LSS to see what was new - nothing, really, though I did buy some MM Paints and some new Bazzill Bling Brads - REALLY pretty!!  Then to Walgreens to pick up the above mentioned drugs, swung by Starbucks for some afternoon caffeine, and then finally home - to rest!!! Geez - what a day, and I still have to cook! Actually, no I don't because hubby made chicken soup last night out of some leftover rotisserie chicken we had - I love him!! 

So, my day was quite jammed packed with "stuff" and I am ready for bed now!!  I hope your day went well.  Don't forget that tomorrow is a new ONEderful Wednesday at JWD - so make sure you check out The Creative Life tomorrow!!  You're going to LOVE it!!  Nighty night y'all!

Happy Easter . . .

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend. The weather was beautiful in New Orleans, though I bit cold. Still, it was nice. The kids enjoyed it. We went to church and afterwards, they had an Egg Hunt for the children. Mine found LOTS of eggs with lots of goodies inside!! Here's a picture after we were back home, before we changed our clothes -

We enjoyed a late lunch at my parents' house with my cousin and her family, and my great aunt and uncle.

We got back to Florida late last night, and I can honstly say that I am SO glad to be home. My visit in New Orleans was nice, and it was great to spend time with my parents. But I did miss my little house and the rest of my family.

Okay, that's it for today. I posted today's blog over on the Team JWD Blog. You should head over there and check it out!!! Hope you all have a wonderful week and I'll see you tomorrow!!

it's the weekend {almost} . . .

and I am SOOOOOO happy!!! My hubby and the girls will be back in New Orleans for Easter, and we are all going home on Sunday. I know Emma and Patrick are SO ready for that!!! And I am sure my parents will enjoy the peace and quiet once we are all gone!!! There are still some things that I need to do before I leave, like go to The Whole Foods Market for that yummy Seed-duction bread!! LOL!! It's the little things with me, I swear!!!

Here are some pictures of my favorite city - some are mine, and some I found on Photobucket {just in case someone sees a picture that they took, I don't want to claim it as my own!!} So, check out my New Orleans -

Lovely, aren't they?? I love New Orleans. Not so much the living here part, but I love to visit, and I love when friends and family visit, so that I can show them around. Here are a couple more - of where I went to high school. Ursuline Academy is the oldest, all-girls, Catholic school in the United States. It is filled with history and tradition, and I am so proud to have gone there.

a picture of the sign in the French Quarter with the Ursuline street name {where the old convent is located.}

Have you all visited the JWD BLOG recently?? You should!! There are lots of things to come, soon - AND, we would really like to get your feedback!! What types of things would YOU like to see and hear about? Challenges? Hybrid Projects? Tutorials? Product Spotlight? Let us know . . . just leave a comment over on the blog, and we will work to make it happen!! The entire JW CT is SOOOOO excited about the blog - we have been brain storming and throwing out ideas like crazy!! We can't wait to post more and really can't wait to see your reactions to it!!!

Okay, well I think that is it for today!! I have a ton of stuff around here to get done, and I hope to go out later and finish up my "New Orleans To-Do List" this afternoon/evening!! Oh, and I have to finish getting Easter Bunny stuff together, too!!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend and a blessed Easter!!

finally . . .

we are all feeling a little bit better!! I think the antibioctics and other meds are finally doing their jobs and kicking this nasty sinus stuff once and for all {well, I know better than that!} LOL!! Anyway, just a quick post today because i am hoping to get out of the house and do some things that Mom and I had planned on doing before we all got sick!! There's some Target shopping to do!!! I also want to go to Whole Foods since I don't have one by me. There is a bread there that I absolutely love, called Seed-Duction - and it is wonderful!!! I totally love the play on words, too! Let's see, there are a couple of scrapbook stores that I want to check out and I need to go to the jeweler and have my rings resized and the stone checked out. There are also a few eateries that I want to go check out before I head back home. So, we'll see if I get it all done!!

In scrapping news, you must, absolutely MUST head over to The Creative Life blog and see what awesomeness {so making up a word!} Jen has in store for you all today!!!! You'll be amazed!!

That's it for now. I hope to get back on here later and add another post with some pictures and stuff. Hope you're having a wonderful Wednesday!!

lots of little things . . .

Sorry for not blogging the past few days!!  After a really fun time at the St. Patrick's Day parade and a really yummy lunch at The Flying Burrito, I ended up at the ER with Patrick Saturday night thinking he had pink eye!!!  Turns out it was just his horrible, no good, very bad allergies kicking in.  Yuck!  On Sunday, we both had the puffy, watery eyes; congested, runny nose; sneezes, coughing, and general "yuck" feeling!!  I had a fever to go along with it, and a sore throat.  I hate pollen!!!  So, yesterday we both went to an urgent care clinic {which was really nice and super fast!} and were diagnosed with sinus infections {well, duh.}  After a really long visit to Walgreens, because they were so super, stupid slow, we got our meds and hopefully today will be much better.

Okay, on to some much better stuff!!!  Have you heard the latest news??  Jen Wilson and her CT have a new Team JWD Blog!!!!  It's called The Creative Life and it is FAB*U*LOUS!!!  Lots of cool stuff going on over there - you seriously need to check it out - on a DAILY basis!!!  There is a NEW Template challenge up today.  A total must-have!!!  She also has a wonderful new kit up, called Creative Fortune.  Right now, it's only $2 in the shoppe and all of the proceeds go to the World Food Programme.  Here's a peek:

You can find it HERE!!  Hurry and go grab it, before it's too late!!!!!

And in other news . . . yesterday, I received some really cool e-mails!!  With as bad as I was feeling, it was nice to see a few surprises in my In Box!!!  The first one was a serious surprise from Shutterfly - since I am such a valued customer, they sent me some good luck in the form of a free 8 x 8 photo book!!  Yes, I said FREE!!!  I couldn't believe it!!!  I have so many layouts that need to be printed, and this was a perfect little treat!!  The second sweet surprise - this really, uber cool scrapbook kit club sent me an email saying that they had openings for new subscribers.  Yay!!!  I have been drooling over these kits for months, and am SO happy to say that I am now, officially a Bad Girl!!!!  Their kits are beautiful - lots of fun embellishments, gorgeous papers, and loads of other goodies!!  I cannot wait for April to get here so that I can "play" with my new goodies!!!

Okay, I think that is it for today.  I need to go take some more meds and rest a little {kind of difficult with a 4 year old and a 2 1/2 year old running around!}  I hope to post a couple of layouts tomorrow, and some pictures!!  Have a great Tuesday!!!

tgif . . .

I hope!  Man this has been a long, crazy week.  I have been sick, the kids have been WILD, and I think I am ready for a very strong drink.  Actually, a babysitter, and a couple of nights in a hotel would nice also!  What a week!

We went to the Louisiana Children's Museum today.  That was a lot of fun.  My dad took off work this afternoon, and we packed E & P into the van and went.  They had some really neat things there, although I felt some of it was a little too advanced for Patrick.  Emma is definitely a great age for most of it and she had a blast.  They both really enjoyed the grocery store, where you could shop for your own groceries and then ring yourself up with a real cash register and everything!  They also had a really neat exhibit - The Kid's Cafe - where the kids get to play host/hostess and wait staff and serve the parents food, after taking their orders of course!!  It was a lot of fun for them, but I definitely think Emma would enjoy it better by herself next time.

I received my goodies from Stamping Bella and I L*O*V*E them!!!  They are SO cute and I cannot wait to use them.  I need to invest in some Copic Markers and maybe some Lyra Crayons.  Oh, oh, oh . . . I forgot to show which ones I got!!  Well, I can't "show" them to you, unless I take my own pics {and my camera is broken!} so I will link you up to them, okay??  Here's what I got -

1. Winobella
2. Minivanabella
3. Clickabella
4. PMSabella

Too cute, huh????  Now, maybe they will inspire me to make some new cards!!  LOL!!  We'll see!

In other news, we are going to a St. Patrick's Day parade in the morning.  That should be fun.  I don't think I have ever been to one.  By the time St. Patrick's Day rolled around every year, I was so burnt out on parades from Mardi Gras, that I never went!!  So, this will be a first for me.  And of course, I don't have a camera.  Ugh!  I hate not being able to take pictures! 

Soooo . . . I guess that's it for now.  I have some files that I need to unzip and organize onto my EHD before I go to bed.  I also started a LO last night that I really want/need to finish.  And, I have to go put tweedle dee and tweedle dum into the bed.  They are watching Shark Tale right now, and seriously need to go to bed if they are going to be up early in the AM to go to the parade.  I hope you all have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!  I am sure I will be on here sometime over the next couple of days, but if not, I hope you have a fun one and I'll see you on Monday - with some REALLY BIG EXCITING NEWS involving Jen Wilson and a new launch!!!  TTYL!

Sara

still here . . .

I think! I have had so much going on this past weekend that I don't think my sanity has returned {not that I ever really had it to begin with though!} The rehearsal was nice - lots of family I hadn't seen in years. The dinner afterwards was great - wonderful roast beef po-boys and Abita beer - can't beat that!!! More friends and family that I had not seen in a while were there as well.

The wedding was beautiful.  After spending the day having my hair and toe nails done, all of the bridesmaids met up with my cousin {the bride} at the Ritz-Carlton to get dressed and have pictures taken.  Then we headed to the church for the ceremony {which happened to be the same church where our parents were married, and our grandparents.  Oh, and Scott and me!}  It was really nice - the sermon was actually one that enjoyed {and I don't say that often!}  After a few pictures we headed to the reception and that is where the party began!  Oh my!!  It was certainly a night of drinking and drinking . . . and not much eating, even though the food was wonderful!!!  Anyway, it is all over now, and the happy couple is in Destin on their honeymoon. 

Oh - and I chose the second pair of shoes!!  After trying on all three pairs, I chose those because they actually looked the best on my foot and with the dress.  And - they were super comfy, considering they had a 3-inch heel!!  Needless to say, my feet were a little sore on Sunday, but not too bad!

Okay, that's it for now.  I have a ton of things to do today and I need to get going.  Hope you all have a great week and I will see ya soon!!

Sara

the big rundown . . .

I have so much stuff to post . . . digi stuff, favorite things, "the" dress. "the" shoes, new stuff . . . a whole basket - or blog - of fun!! So let's get started!!! I have been running around like a crazy person trying to get my stuff together for my cousin's wedding. My dress finally came in on Saturday and I had to get it altered in a BIG way!! It's was about 4 inches too SMALL in the chest {like, it would NOT zip! AT ALL!!} and it was kind of big in the bottom, not to mention it had to be taken up in the length as well. All of this, and it HAD to be done by today, because I leave tomorrow morning for the wedding! There is a seamstress here in town that does really good work and is really fast {i.e. REALLY PRICEY!} but she worked wonders on the dress and it fits like a dream! Yay!! Here's a pic {so not of me BTW!} -

It's a dark brown, like the picture, called espresso. It looks really good on, and I am really happy about it. Now, on to the next dilema. I bought shoes, but have since found others that I like. And I cannot decide which ones I like the most!!! Here are some pics, maybe you can help me decide!!!

Pair #1 - Cameka

Pair #2 - Fiore

Pair #3 - Vasek

All of the of super hot and sexy, I just can't decide which ones will be comfy, too!!! You know, it is all about the comfiness too!! Okay, on the next thing - new and yummy in digi land!! First up, there has been another sighting of the Sock Monster over at JWD. He left some really cool new Alphas that you just have to grab {they're only 75 cents!!} Take a look -

Too cool, huh?? I told you!! I have a major addiction to alphas, and these totally fed it!!! I love the glitter ones, too!! Glitter is so HUGE right now in the scrapping world, and Jen does glitter like no one else!!! Those zipper pulls are super cute as well, perfect for monograms and stuff on your pages!!!

Okay, on a hybrid note, I was reading Corina's Blog the other day, and she had a sneak peek of her new digi collab kit! She also had info about her Hybrid project kit using the digi kit, and I knew I had to have it! Her last one flew off the shelves - like as soon as she posted about it!! So, I e-mailed her and told her I wanted one. She is SUPER sweet!!! Such a doll! Yesterday, she sent me an email telling me the hybrid stuff was ready to go. They went out yesterday, and hopefully it will arrive at my parents' house. It will give me a nice little project to work on while I am there for two weeks!! Here's a little glimpse of the kit and the hybrid project -

both of which can be found at FPD although I am not sure how long the hybrid kits will last!!!

And finally . . . Thursdays used to be the day that I posted about "My Favorite Things" on my blog. So I thought I would get back to that this week. Dillards is having a Clinique Bonus right now which is SUPER cool!! I love the colors of the shadows and the travel size products are perfect for my little trip home! Here's the BONUS -

Really nice, right? I love it!! And I really love the cool goodies I bought!! Take a peek into my makeup bag -

The mascara is their new waterproof/resistant one, perfect for a wedding {and those spring allergy watery eyes!} The blush, lipstick, and duo liner are part of their new Spring color story - The Nudes. Also perfect for the wedding, since the colors are choloclate and pink. Now to pick a nail color!!!

Okay, sorry for the loooooooong post today, but I have been putting off posting things and decided to just do it all today!! I hope you are having a great week and are looking forward to the weekend!!! I know I am!!! I have family coming in from all over the country, so it will be nice to see everyone and hang out for a few days!! Until next time -

Sara

the weather . . .

stinks here today!  It poured here late last night/early this morning, and of course the power went out.  Which meant no alarm clock and mad dashes getting ready for school!! I have quite a few things to get done today - like taking my dress to be altered and trying to finish up some laundry so I can get the kiddos packed for our trip to New Orleans. Speaking of laundry, today I decided tp highlight a few of my favorite pieces from The Laundry Line - Jen Wilson's new product line!! So here are my favs for this week -

Stains On Purpose

I love these!! Actually, they have been a popular choice among my fellow CT members. They totally grunge up your page and add lots of depth! I love the coffee stain the best! Try playing around with the opacity levels on each and adjusting the hue/saturation levels to make them totally your own!!

My other favorite is this one -

Zachary Papers

I used these papers on my last layout {see yesterday's post!} All of Jen's papers are loaded with texture and depth, but right now, these are my new favs!! I love the darker colors of browns and reds. And personally, even though they are part of the Boy line of papers, they can totally be used for both girls and boys!!!

I have some things I need to finish up around here before I head out to run my errands {joyous fun!} I hope you all have a wonderful day and that it is starting to feel a little more like spring in your neck of the woods!! Have a good one!!

Sara

ETA:  I just opened my e-mail and found something AWESOME!!  I won a challenge at Stamping Bella How exciting!! The prize was a $15 Gift Certificate to the store, which was perfect because I had some things saved in my cart that I have been wanting to get!!! I'll post those tomorrow - but I had to share my exciting news!!

the best laid plans . . .

always seem to go "poof"!! I got up this morning and was going to blog. Had my coffee ready, the kids were outside with Scott, computer was on . . . good to go! And then . . . I started tooling around with a layout for the fifth Laundry Basket Challenge at Jen Wilson Designs and it took me ALL morning, and part of the afternoon!!! Ugh!! I hate when that happens!! Of course, by the time I was done, it was time for lunch and Scott left for work. No more free time to post. But, I'm here now!!! And I have a layout to share, so that's good, right?? In case you all missed the chat last night at JWD {which I did - most of it anyway!} you missed some fun stuff!! There was a Chat Challenge involving Paper Dolls - which are quite hysterical!! You can view the Gallery HERE You girls had me cracking up!! I am going to have to work on one of my own to post, just to say I did it!!

In other exciting news, a new month brings a new kit!!! I am so excited about the new March Kit from Paper Posies.

The papers are beautiful and I love that spiral journaling book! And . . . it comes with a mint tin!! I may use that to do a hybrid project I have been putting off!!! Anyway, it should ship out on the 10th - which stinks because I won't be here! But I will have a nice surprise waiting when I get home!!!

By the way, if you check out the left side panel of my blog, you will see a new little icon thingy!! It's for The 3 Day Walk for Breast Cancer, and I am officially a participant!! Click the link and it will take you to my homepage. You can read about my personal story with Breast Cancer, and donate if you so choose. I will post more about this amazing event later this week, but I wanted to give my new side icon a plug - since it took me FOREVER to figure out how to put it there!!!

The Sock Monster has paid a visit to my house!! Scott was sitting on the floor in the family room last night, with this nice, neat little pile of mismatched socks - trying to find the mates!! I had to take some pictures!! His exact words, "I bet this is going to turn into a scrapbook page, isn't it?" Um, well yeah! Of course it is!! Especially since The Sock Monster finds have been such a hit!!!! So, here is my layout -

The Sock Monster

Pretty funny, huh?? Well, dear readers, I am off. The weather here is getting warmer, which means lots of pollen in the air. And that means LOTS of headaches and sinus misadventures for me!! So I am going to pop a Singulair and a Zyrtec, along with some Motrin and some hot tea - and head off to my bed for the rest of the night!! Hope you all had a good Monday, I will talk with you tomorrow!!

Sara

morning . . .

**Just a reminder - chat tonight at JWD, in the chat room, at 8:00 PM EST!!! Come join us!**

Wow!! That's all I can say!! I cannot believe the how many of you visited my blog yesterday and left such sweet comments!!! Yes, my day was certainly crazy-busy, my I managed to get most of my "list" completed!! The car didn't get washed {but that was mainly my own fault, because I was out for a looooong time, and when I finally got home, it was dark!!} And I didn't get to Lowe's, which is no biggie since I am going to be gone for a couple of weeks and won't get to mess in the yard much anyway. Other than that - the dress is great {some alterations to be done!}, shoes and undergarments are good, went to the store, went to the cleaners . . . well, you get the idea!! And yes, I did shave my legs!!! You all were too funny! Glad I made you laugh!!

and the winner is . . .

so . . . without further procrastination, I did choose a winner from ALL of the comments {there were like 70+ comments!! WOW!!} Oh, and used a cool little number randomizer to pick the winner {to be fair, of course!} And the lucky winner is . . . . .

Laurie!!!

I will be sending you an e-mail shortly!! Thanks everyone for participating and keep reading, because this certainly won't be the last little comment "contest"!! Hope you have a wonderful Sunday!!!

busy, busy, busy {and a surprise!}. . .

I have a busy day ahead of me! After sleeping in a bit AND getting breakfast in bed - YUM - my to do list is busting at the seams!! My cousin is getting married next Saturday and I am the maid-of-honor {I refuse to say matron because it makes me sound WAY TOO OLD!} Anyway, I digress - my dress FINALLY came in this morning!! Yipee!! So, here's my list:

1. Go pick up dress {and try on, make sure it fits, have it altered}
2. Go to Dillards to get my shoes
3. Make sure I have the correct undergarments to wear with the dress
4. HAVE to go grocery shopping - I am out of like everything!!
5. dry cleaners
6. drop stuff off at The Goodwill
7. work on my layout for the Fifth Laundry Challenge at JWD
8. finish some laundry
9. hopefully get my car washed {but it's looking like rain!}
10. go to Lowe's and look at some new flowers and plants for the yard

And now for the surprise . . . yesterday I had my 100th BLOG POST!  Whoo Hoooo!!  I cannot believe I have actually posted 100 times!!  Actually, if I would keep up with my blog more I would hit that "goal" a long time ago!!  But . . . since it is a momentous event I have decided to have a little giveaway!!  Don't you love prizes!!  LOL!!  I know I do!!  So, here it is . . . all you have to do is leave me a comment below, letting me know you were here and I will pick one lucky person to receive a $10 GC to Jen Wilson's shoppe! How cool is that?!?!?!?! So . . . read up, leave me some love, and I will pick the winning "fan" in the morning!!! Oh, and be sure to post by midnight CST on Saturday {today/tonight} Good luck!!

Okay, I'm off. I need to shower and {ugh!} shave my legs since I have to try on the dress in front of someone!! LOL!!! Sometimes, I crack myself up!! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend {and if I get finished, I'll post my layout sometime later today!}

one more thing . . .

I forgot this in my last post!  My sweet friend Romona posted this on her MySpace blog, and tagged me!  So . . . here it is:

I've been TAGGED!

Once you've been tagged you have to write a blog with ten weird, random things, facts, habits, or goals about yourself.  At the end, choose ten people to be tagged, listing their names and why you choose them.  Don't forget to leave them a comment or message saying "You're It" and telling them to read your blog.  You can't tag the person who tagged you.  Since you can't tag them back, let them know when you have posted so they can see your answers!

1. I am totally addicted to the computer . . . email, MySpace, Facebook, blogs, Digi Scrapping Boards, shopping - you name it, I love it!  Long live the World Wide Web!
2. I actually have four {4}, yes I said four, children!  Two that a gave birth to {acutally cut open and had them taken out better describes it!} and two I should have!
3. I am a city girl, living in a country town world!!!  The day I can move back to Dallas will be one of the best days of my life . . . seriously!
4. One day I want to go back to school and become an esthetician . . . I love makeup, cosmetics, skin care, all of it . . . and want to share that love with others professionally.  It must be my creative side wanting to come out!  My dream job would to be an educator for a professional makeup/skin care line!
5. When I was two years old, I diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.  Through all of the trials and hardships that it has imposed on my life, I have learned a lot from it.  I wear an insulin pump, which I have had for almost 11 years now, and I love it!!
6. I met my husband online, sort of!  He was deployed to the Middle East and I found an online post asking for people to write to the troops.  So I did.  And I got a letter back from him.  And so begins the rest of the story . . .
7. I love paper!  All kinds of paper . . . beautiful writing papers, lovely stationary, eclectic handmade papers, scrapbook papers . . . you name it, I love it! 
8. I am a total bibliophile.  A what you say?  I love books!  I love to read and collect books - old and new.
9. I have very few "close" friends.  The ones that do have are spread across this wonderful nation that I love, like a blanket spreading warmth across the miles.
10. I have a strange love of Spaghetti O's!!  I love them!!

Okay, so now I have to pick ten people to read my blog.  Hmmmm, here goes . . . Allison {alienhard}, Tay {adobe*addict}, Jenn D., Jenny, Julie F. {Jules}, Emily {skrpbkmom}, Trina, Jayne {NellieRose}, and Teresa {DigiKitty} . . . okay girls, it's your turn!! 

another sunny day . . .

When I woke up this morning, I had to pinch myself!! Seriously! I am still in a state of awe that I am officially on Jen's Creative Team!! Wow!! Scott was off this morning, and he let me sleep in . . . until 11:30AM!! Yikes!!! I know I needed it, since I have been up late working on my challenge layouts! Speaking of that, here is mine for the fourth Laundry Basket Challenge over at Jen's site -

My Love

You can click the title for the credits. I will post the next challenge as soon as it is released on the site.

And in other news . . . there is a new Sock Monster Find over at JWD. And for only 75 cents you just can't beat it!!! Here's a peek:

And finally . . . here are some pics we took yesterday. It was such a nice day, and I had to do something to pass the time before I could blog/talk/post about my BIG news!! I didn't have a chance to edit them, add cutesy frames, etc . . . but they are still cute all by themselves!

For those of you wondering, Katie was taking the pics with her camera! Here's a rundown of the photos:

1. Patrick and Jess making funny faces!

2. Patrick and me going "Aghhhhh!"

3. My sweet Emma and me

4. Two of my loves with their mommy!

Okay, that's it for today! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I hope the weather is just as beautiful tomorrow and Sunday as it is today! Have a good one, and I will post the new challenge once it's up!

a bit of lit . . .

Just a little randomness for today . . . I have been seeing these posted on blogs and on MySpace lately, and thought I would take the test. Check out who I am . . .

Take the Quiz here!

I think this is the only Austen book that I haven't read!! I read many in high school and college, but somehow this one got lost in the shuffle. At the time, especially as a teenage, I hated reading, especially books that were required reading. Bleck!! I have since gone back and re-read many of them, and will probably now go to Barnes and Noble and pick up this one!! So, which Austen heroine are you?