Hang in there!

I didn't forget about my blog, I promise!! I will be in to update it soon. My daughter was hospitalized for the week after her appendix burst and right after that, we started moving the scrapbook store so I'm waaaayyyyyy busy. Will check in soon, I promise! Hope you all are getting your Christmas shopping done!
J

If you love my blog...

So, I found a couple cute backgrounds at The Cutest Blog on the Block. Check them out if you want to give your blog a makeover!

J

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you all enjoy your little Goblins today and although it might seem chaotic with all costumes and treat sorting let's stop and enjoy it because soon they will be gone with their own kiddos and we'll be so sad. I made sure to take extra photos this Halloween. I think in some way it helps me feel better about the rest of the year that I forgot to photograph. I'm looking forward to creating some great layouts with the pics I got. Until then...

These photos were from last February when we took the kids to Motocross at The Palace. I did not get very good photos but found a way to work with what I had. I just love blue and orange together. I even made a little pouch for the tickets!

Everything on this layout is cardstock. I'm not sure who made the dirtbike paper but we still have some for sale at Little Scrapbox. I chose to omit embellies and instead used souveniers from the show! Clever, aren't I? LOL!

J

Halloween Cheer

My friend Bonnie aka The Scrappin' Bonster made me this crazy cool Halloween pot of cheer. She is so super talented and I have the absolute pleasure of working with her at Little Scrapbox.
Whether she's lending an ear, or offering me compliments, or just being her regular happy self, she finds ways to bring laughter to my life daily. I am so grateful for her! Thanks Bon! I only hope I am half the friend to you that you are to me!!

J

Man, I hate these blog templates!

Eeeewwwww, look at the colors of my blog!! How the H can I get a cool template???? I've been googling all over the place and figured out a couple ways but they don't look right!!!! If anyone knows someone who does blog design, let me know!

J

To bully or not to bully...

As I wrote yesterday's post, I was filled with happiness over times right now. It is so difficult in this rapidly declining economy to be positive. I absolutely refuse to give in the sheer panic around me. I continue to count my blessings every day and make sure I give a shout out to the big man upstairs for providing me with such a comfortable life. As I sat here typing, filled with bliss, my son walked in from school with a big bruise on his chin. Long story short, he was again a victim of a bully at school. This is the first time that he has come home with actual physical marks. It's usually just pushing and shoving, and harsh words. My bliss instantly faded. As a Mom, my first instinct was to run up to the school screaming and yelling at the first person of authority that I saw. My son insisted I let it go. His fear if he told: more bruising. I gotta tell ya - I'm fed up to my eyeballs with these kids that continue to bully. I am so very sad for them. Sad because they do not have parents that instill good values. Parents that probably don't give a rat's behind about what they are doing and who they are doing it with. Today's world is so hard on our younger population. They are faced with things you and I never had to see. It makes it even harder when they have to look over their shoulders for attackers at all times of the day. So today, I write with a heavy heart. I hate this part of motherhood - you know, the part where your protective gear comes out and you will show no mercy to those who hurt your babies. Then there's the fine balance - he's not a baby anymore. He needs to learn humility and self protection to prepare him for this cruel world. I can't be jumping out from behind desks when he's 42 sitting in a staff meeting to fend off the folks who disagree with him, now can I?

Thanks for listening...


Here's today's layout. Still trying to finish up that Hawaii book. As you can see, the layouts get more simple - I'm sooooooo over tropical layouts.

Supplies: Striped patterned paper and shell stickers (K & Co), Glitter paper (DCWV), Sand patterned paper (unknown from JoAnn's), Title (Doodlebug stickers)

J

Josh Barg - Superstar!

Here's a layout I did recently to showcase all those awesome photos I took from Josh's first season playing Flag Football. I love how the photos turned out. Each one reminds me of just how sporty this kid is. I started wondering why I have so many opportunities to create great sport layouts of this kid, but absolutely none from my other two. Then, it dawned on me. I have 3 entirely unique little humans here in my home. This wonderful opportunity to dabble in each of their very different worlds. I mean, think about it... if they were all alike and I was shuffeling them all from one sport to the next would it be as interesting?

I consider myself very eclectic in my tastes of all things. I love all kinds of music from country to heavy metal, to top 40 - I love a huge variety of goodness on my plate at dinner - I like to try my hand at all artsy mediums - I like for the rooms in my home to be 100% different from the next. I like LOTS of things - I guess in a word - variety. So it is no surprise to me that God blessed me with a variety of little personalities - he knows me best after all. As a scrapbooker, this makes me equally as happy because I can purchase supplies from every theme!! Lucky me!



J