BLOG CANDY!!!

Who doesn't love candy??? Especially BLOG candy!!!

Well over at Rose Blossom Legacies, Brenda is giving away enough sweets to make you check your dental coverage :)






Her giveaway includes:

• Cosmo Cricket Jack's World - sticker sheet, 2 journaling sheets, 2 journal tags, and 9 pieces of matching printed paper 
• CTMH Clover Meadow - 12 sheets 
• Fancy Pants Mixed Media 8x8 album 
• Rolodex for altering 
• Inkadinkado School stamp set 
• Me & My Big Ideas Smile chipboard sticker 
• Colorbok Cute chipboard letters 
• Creative Imaginations school rub-ons 
• K & Company Rough and Tumble grand adhesions 
• Slick Writer pen 
• Primary colored safety pins 
• CTMH chipboard - swirls, brackets, square frames, round frames 
• 4 yards red ribbon 
• Bag of diecuts from the Slice Fall/Back to School card 
• Big bag of brads, eyelets (couple hundred or so various colors and sizes), bookplates, and buttons 

That is over $75 of yummy, scrappin' goodness. So, click HERE to head over to her blog for your chance to win....and don't forget to pass the word along :) The draw is tomorrow, September 1st....so don't delay!!

She Said Yes!!

It all started on June 6, 1996 on a warm summer day. Martin (my husband) and I had been taking on the phone every night until the wee hours of the morning and we were spending every day together : ) But on that day we decided to make our relationship official and become a "couple". Then on Sunday, December 19, 1999, on the bridge where I first told him that I loved him (just so you know, he said 'I love you' first and was awaiting my response), he asked me to be his wife....and I said yes! That day marked the beginning of years of memories, both happy and sad, but 14 years later, we are still together.

Actually, when we got engaged, I had not yet discovered my addiction to love of scrap booking, so when Martin took these photos, I just kept them in an album. I recently organized my photos and decided that it was time to give this photo the love it deserves :)

You're Never Too Old To FINGERPAINT!!

Every so often I get the desire to do something different. The last time I got this urge, I shaved off all of my hair; but this time I wanted to spice up my scrap life and shake things up a bit :) While blog hopping one night (whilst the children were peacefully sleeping....) I was reading a particularly intriguing post that focused on using paint on layouts....unable to resist the urge, I quickly flipped through my photo box, selected the perfect pictures and got to work. This is my finished product.......... 

Now, I must admit, I didn't really take a professional approach to painting. 

Basically, I used my fingers and the lid from my jar of Mod Podge to create the circles :) 

This is definitely a technique that I will use in the future.

     Thanks for the inspiration Keandra!!!

Journey to Size 12.....

So, I have decided to take better care of my body and try to shed a few pounds so that I can return to my post marriage, baby, career etc. dress size which was a 12. Now, some of you may be thinking, "Size 12,  that's not that small". But when you are six feet tall, size twelve is like size 6!!

I have acquired a personal trainer, an aerobics DVD and I have committed to eating better....the latter being the more difficult of the three pieces of my size twelve puzzle :)  I created this weight loss journal to track my successes, triumphs, and any bumps in the road; I will be sure to keep you updated about my progress as I go along.

I used envelopes, my Zutter, ink, and paper scraps to created this little book. My plan is to record my weight and measurements each month along with my thoughts. The purpose of the envelopes is to include pictures that  take as I make my transformation. But I won't be posting any "before" pics until I have chiseled out my beach body and I have something to brag about :) Wish me luck.....and say a prayer for me. I met with my trainer earlier today and I am pretty sure that my body  will be frozen in whatever position I fall asleep in tonight!!

I Hope You Dance

I am a mother to two beautiful daughters. My eldest is six and the baby is three; both of them have totally different personalties. Kimee is the more daring, risk-taker; while Simone is more cautious and becomes very nervous and anxious in new situations. For example, at the park, Simone approaches the monkey bars with extreme caution, but Kimee.....by the time I blink she is at the top yelling, "Look at me, Mommy!! I did it all by myself!!"

So, when I pray for my girls, I always find that my prayers have two very distinct focuses. For Kimee, my prayer usually sounds something like this, "Lord, please help me to allow Kimberley to take risks, even if they make ME nervous. Please keep her safe from broken, twisted, and sprained limbs. Give her a strong sense of discernment so she will know which risks are not worth taking. Amen."

For Simone, my prayers are a little different. I pray that God will give her courage and boldness. I pray that she will know that her thoughts are worth sharing and that she will always be brave enough the speak her mind. I pray that she will be more confident than I was when I was a child. And in life, when she gets the choice to sit it out or dance, I pray that she will choose to dance.
**I just used my favourite parts of the lyrics in my layout :)

I Hope You Dance

by Lee Ann Womack

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat

But always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed

I hope you still feel small

When you stand by the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance 

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Living might mean taking chances

But they're worth taking

Lovin' might be a mistake

But it's worth making

Don't let some hell bent heart

Leave you bitter

When you come close to selling out

Reconsider

Give the heavens above

More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance.

True Love

I have always wanted to take photos with my hubby in one of those photo booths at the mall! I know that they are overpriced and have poor resolution, but I just think they are the cutest thing :) Unfortunately, my hubby does not frequent malls, and if we do go, it is not for a leisurely stroll. He knows exactly what he wants and the fastest route to that store. He doesn't browse through the shops that he passes as he heads towards his destination, he just goes in, and gets out. When we do manage to go to the mall together, and he is willing to squeeze into that booth with me (they really need to make those things bigger!!) we usually use our $4 on a yummy frozen dessert from Yogen Fruz. I guess when you are married to a photographer and you have to choose between overpriced, poorly exposed pics and yummy, delicious frozen
yogurt....you choose the yogurt!!

But on this particular day, the stars aligned and all must have been in balance with the world because we didn't feel for a frozen treat and we were both in the mood for a few minutes of fun!! So, in we climbed, worked out our positioning, rehearsed our poses, inserted our coins, and the magic began.

I kept the photo strip on my craft table for a while, wanting to buy the perfect paper and think of the perfect journaling. Once I found the paper, I began to think of what to write. I mean, how did I feel when I looked at this strip of four mini photos?? Then it came to me. The lyrics to a song by Ingrid Michaelson entitled, The Way I Am. The words are simple, but they captured my heart :)

So, I have a challenge for you....drag your hubby to the mall, seek out one of those booths, squeeze inside together, insert your coins, snap some shots, and scrap them!! If you do, email your layout to me....I would love to see you and your true love.

Journaling

If you were falling, then I would catch you
You need a light, I'd find a match

Cuz I love the way you say good morning
And you take me the way I am

If you are chilly, here take my sweater
Your head is aching; I'll make it better

Cuz I love the way you call me baby
And you take me the way I am