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

Thanks Dawn

My friend Dawn gave me this award. Thanks Dawn! Right back at ya!

J

He's got spirit!!

Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill, Prism) Letter Stickers (Thickers by American Crafts), Chieftain mascot (downloaded from internet), silver dots (punched from glitter paper by Die Cuts with A View)

I was so excited when my oldest told me he wanted to go to the Utica Homecoming game. Even more so when I saw him all dressed in school spirit. Utica will be his very own high school next year when he becomes a sophomore (GASP!) and I am hoping with all my heart that he gets more involved with school functions. Tim has done a total turn around this year with his grades, his appearance, and his attitude. I'm so proud of him. I had to beg for these photos for this layout and it was worth it! Man, I love this kid!

J

Patience is a virtue...

Here's a Stella card I did for a class not too long ago. I know, I'm really reaching into the archives again. I swear, tomorrow, I will not be lazy and will take photos of all my latest layouts. Well, after Will & Grace and a big ole cup-a-joe that is!!

In unrelated news, I find it my duty to inform you all that I seem to be having a bad hair month. Out of sheer craziness last month, I decided to chop 3-4 inches off the crown of my head of hair (BY MYSELF) - in my mind before I did it, it looked fabulous. Now that I'm stuck trying to style a toupe of hair on top of a lions mane, I'm a little confused as to how I can pull it off. *sigh* I guess I'll just throw in the towel and go have my hairdresser make some sense out of it. It's always so embarassing admitting that you were too cheap to get a haircut. Actually, in my case it's not that I'm too cheap but rather impatient. When I want something done, or I want to purchase something, or I have a particular food craving, I indulge right away no matter what cost to me (case in point with my toupe on a lions mane). I absolutely HATE sitting still for a haircut, nails, doctors visit... I'm wondering at what point of my life I lost all patience. Seriously, it's crazy. Sometimes I have to fight the urge to reach under the bank teller window and poke her eyes out because I watched from my place in line (which was 13th) while she decided to organize her pens and stamps and count her stupid singles while one teller handled it all. Don't even get me started about Speedway gas station. For some reason, there are 5 employees working all within the same 5 feet but only one is ALLOWED to ring on the cash register??? Yeah, I'm not buying that. Have you SEEN the lines at Speedway????? One day, I guarantee, you'll read in the papers about a grown woman that laid on the floor of a Speedway and flung herself about in shrieks of tantrum... then you'll know that again, I was a victim of my impatience.

Oh well, tomorrow's another day to practice being more gracious in line. I think I'll purposely buy myself a coffee at Speedway and begin my training program. LOL!

J

For my Mama...

I was talking to my Mom today (cuz it's her birthday you know) HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! and we were reminiscing about my nephew who passed away recently. She told me that it's been 6 weeks already and how she thought of him all day. I forgot that I had created this layout shortly after his passing and wanted to share it with her. I am searching for a frame and will be hanging this in my house.

J

Plaid - it's not just for school uniforms anymore!

I just couldn't resist this plaid Christmas paper! The colors are crazy cool! I used pics from Xmas 1997 which probably would have looked better if I could have made them black and white. I just love this line!



Supplies: Patterned paper & stickers (We R Memory Keepers), Cardstock (Prism & Bazzill), Stockings (Paper Bliss), Felt scrolls (Queen & Co.), Ribbon (American Crafts)

J

Spooktacular!

Here's the layout from Halloween at Greenfield Village. The green paper on the layout is fabulous - it's flocked and velvety!



Supplies: Patterned paper(We R Memory Keepers), Cardstock (Bazzill), Stickers (K & Co.), Rhinestone stickers (Me and my Big Ideas), Postcard on the pocket (was a souvenier from Greenfield Village)
J

Under the sea ~

So I started feeling really bad about not posting anything scrapbook related so when I did my last post and loaded my pics in, I noticed that I did have a layout on my camera that I didn't share yet. This was a designer layout I did for the store last week. I'm very pleased with the outcome and wish I had some kind of photo to go on this layout so I could make one for myself. I may just go put on my coconut bra and shimmery fins and take some self portraits!! Snort! Make sure you click on the photo to enlarge it - you gotta check out some of the detail!! Thanks so much for looking!

P.S. I hope you're not too scared here on my blog with my spooky new colors!!
J

Meeeee-owwwwww Baby!

How rude of me to just pop in whenever I feel like it! And how dare I pop in without sharing something scrapbook related huh? Yeah, well, too bad. It's my blog and I've been creating SO MANY layouts at work lately that I'm just plain pooped. I did manage to finish a Christmas and Halloween layout the other day, but I'm waaaayyyy lazy and don't wanna go to the car to get my camera to snap a picture. Maybe tomorrow (which in Jeni blog land means in 2 weeks). So for those of you who check in to read my blog ("those of you" SNORT! There's really only 4 of you) you're gonna have to sit tight. In the meantime (is that one word or two?) here's photos of me and my way cute sister in law, me and my hubby (don't you love his costume? He went as a party pooper) and then a pic of the kiddos last weekend before we took the fam to Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village. We had a blast and decided to don matching cat costumes. What a hoot! We were cracking each other up all night. When we got to the pirate exhibit, everyone was cracking pirate jokes and I yelled out to the fam (there were 15 of us) "Hey! The Baaargggh's are here!" Get it? My last name is Barg and a pirate says Arrgh! So funny. Sometimes I crack myself up. Well, enjoy. I hope you all have a fantastic week.
Hugs!

J

Today is a BIG day!

Today is a big day for me. I'm going on a date with my hubby and I'm leaving my oldest son, Tim (14) in charge of the other two. At night. In the dark. With no grown ups. GASP. I'm sure everything will be fine. I started babysitting INFANTS at age 12 so they'll be fine right? So then, why is it 8:15 pm and I'm still sitting here? I've made the required lists, bought them all their favorite snacks, put Hannah Montana on the TV (for the younger two of course. My 14 year old wouldn't be caught DEAD watching it). I'm wondering why such big changes seem to paralyze me. I guess I just always fear the worst. It's like when Tony is away for a weekend, every CSI episode I've ever watched comes to life. All of a sudden, every perp that ever made a getaway is in my back yard. Again, GASP.

So, I'm gonna be a big girl now, grab Tony and get in the car. We're going to go to the casino to win very large amounts of money. VERY LARGE. Wish me luck!

Of course, if you know me, I've scheduled this post to publish long after I'm home and tucked in bed so that no crazies can read this and come get my children while I'm gone. Smart huh? I know!

J