say hello

say hello to....
a day filled with rain! a day with cooler temps! Friday! Date night! Texas Rangers in the win column!
ok, that last part is wishful/hopeful/positive thinking :)

today I was one of those people... who when I drive by their house I shake my head and think what are they thinking? I've had our sprinkler turned off all week, waiting for the rain. there would be a drop of rain here and there, but never anything more than a few drops. last night I turned the sprinkler on, so that it would come on at it's scheduled time this morning, and when I get up, the sprinklers are going and it is pouring down rain! in my defense, my sprinklers come on at 5am, who knew it would be raining then, and seriously, I am asleep! at any rate, I just shook my head and thought, what are you thinking!

I've not had our cupcake much this week. I go pick her up, then someone is there to get her within an hour. we do not get to spend much time together that way. she misses me too! I'll ask her, do you miss me and she just grins so big her body wiggles... that means yes in babyland. tomorrow though, we are all going to our hometown in Texas, watching the big float parade. horses and firetrucks and school marching bands. craft show on the courthouse lawn. we'll meet Jess and Josh there, along with my parents and my brother, and spend most of the day in town just hanging around. I'm thinking I better charge my camera battery tonight. can't wait to see the look on little missy's face as everything goes by.

here is a say hello layout. lots of layers, misting, washi tape, even some sewing. I do think now that it would look a bit better with a second color misted as well, but it works fine like this. I sill like it, and the picture makes me smile. isn't that what it's all about!

thanks for stopping by! have yourself a great weekend!

Can I get a WooHoo!!

really! seriously!! I wanna woohoo! while it is a Monday, it's also the first day of the photography workshop with Karen! woohoo! (ok, so now it is officially the second day because I didn't get this post finished yesterday!)

here's a little picture I took of just a smidgen of the flower beauty in my backyard. I seemed to play with my camera quite a bit over the weekend, and it felt good! I have no idea if the picture is correct, but I like it!

and now for a couple of layouts that I've finished. slowly I am getting back into scrapping. the desire is there, just seems to be so many other things needing my attention. anyone else feel that way?

and.... how could I not include a picture of cupcake! her momma is a big time couponer, and Sunday spread out over the living room floor cutting her coupons. miss cupcake thought her momma needed help! does she not have a look on her face that says, "do you mind??? I'm trying to read the paper". she is a hoot! and such a happy happy baby, except when she is fighting her sleep, like last night. even then she makes me laugh!

I have a feeling Karen's workshop is going to keep me pretty busy over the next 9 weeks... but I'm pumped! I'm ready! I'm excited and ready to get snapping! Have a great Tuesday!

He & She

we've made it to Friday again. ya know, I used to get really excited when Friday arrived, because the week seemed so long and it meant two days of not going to work, but now, I think, what??? Friday again?? where did the week go? now instead of it being woohoo the weekend, it's we are one week closer to another new year! it really is true, once you reach a certain age, the years seem so just fly by, and that is just one more reason to live while you can! enjoy while you are able, because the years, they be flying by in a hurry!

it's 4 days after labor day, and I'm wearing white jeans! ha, take that fashion police. I know that no white after labor day isn't so much a rule anymore, but growing up with a mother who was up on all the fashion and fashion rules, and did not wear white after labor day, it's hard to do. but, I did it today, and I'm am looking over my shoulder waiting for someone to point and gasp! "she has on white!!!" I have issues!

I love this layout below. it is a lift, and I've spent the last couple of hours trying to find where I lifted it from. not sure if it's right to post on your blog when you can't remember where you lifted it from, so forgive me if it's wrong. I'm almost positive that it was Jen Jockisch, but it might have been Jenni Hufford, except I can't find it anywhere. I'm still looking for it, because now it's driving me nuts, and hoping to find it so I can come back and include the link to it. I really did want to share it though, and hope no one is offended, because that is not my intentions.

the story

it has been a busy summer! I can't believe that it's almost over and September is 9 days away! it really is true, the older you get, the quicker the days fly by, cause I'm thinking I just took my Christmas decorations down last week and it's almost time to get them back out!
it's been a good summer though. we had that pool party, and I was a little OCD like I said I'd be, BUT!, my yard has never looked so good! I was tired after it though, so tired I stayed tired all during the week, and last weekend, I never got out of the chair! haha It went so smoothly though, and was a lot of fun, so much so, that I said I'd do it again. I think though maybe I'd had just a little too much rum & coke!
Jessica is starting her second year of teaching next week. she's met most of her students and it is just awesome to hear the excitement in her voice! I hope it's a good year for her, even if she has spent the better part of the summer telling me I am crazy and blaming me for all that is wrong in her world. I think she needed more spankings as a young child.
it's been a bit of a strange week this week. I always turn on the tv and listen to the today show while I get ready for work, and to hear them talking about our quiet little town, it's just surreal. you pull up yahoo and see Oklahoma shooting as #3 or #4 on what's trending now. it's still hard to believe that 3 teenagers just on a whim decided to kill someone, and that it happened right down the street from my office. I knew something major had happened when all the police cars went flying by, but never imagined it would be something like a 23 yr old being shot in the back just because he happened to be jogging down the street. It's sad and tragic, and hard to wrap your head around. then a bit later I looked up and noticed two patrol cars out in our parking lot talking and you could see patrol cars driving around the area. I remember thinking it's like they are looking for someone, but still never gave it another thought. until I saw it on facebook later that evening, and then the local news. and this week, everyone in the country, and other countries, have been talking about it. there was a fund set up, to raise money for his parents to come to Oklahoma I think, they people responsible for it had hoped to raise $15,000.00, last I looked, it was over $100,000.00. it makes no sense how something so horrible can happen when there are so many kind and caring people in this world, and raising that amount of money is just proof that there is still good out there, and lots of it. I for one am cheering for the good to keep shining through.
the story
this picture was taken out at my parents a few years ago, at least 4 if not 5. It was shortly after my mom had her first back surgery and she needed help putting out all of her Christmas decor. off we went to help, and at some point, Matt was trying to stress to her that she was over working him and he was to tired to do anymore. when she wasn't buying it, he put on her back brace and took her walking cane/stick and hobbled into the kitchen, like a 90 yr old man, to sit at the table in peace with my daddy. my daddy just looked up at him, shook his head, grinned his sideways grin, and went back to just sitting. there they sat, just sitting, no words, just sitting. it warms my heart to look at that picture of the two of them at the table.

I did lots and lots of stitching on this one. I like it, but it reminded me why I don't like to sew. it was almost like sewing a dress, all the stitching. ha wishing you all a great weekend. I'm headed down Dallas way tomorrow to spend the day with my posse of girls! We are going to a cocktail to colors event in Bedford. I'm thinking Bedford will never be the same again!

HEY!

Can you believe it is August 5th, already! It's almost time for school to be starting back, winter clothes are now all over the stores, and we are still having 100+ degree temps, which makes it hard to think about coats!
But, I must get in the mind frame of winter/coats/holidays, for I really do plan to make some Christmas Presents this year! It's something I've thought about for a couple of years, and before the unthinkable happens, I want to get this done. So, I need to get busy!!
Not this week though, my darling husband, he's really been wanting to have a get together/cook out/pool party, and in a weak moment I said you should go ahead and plan for one. He jumped ALL over that! What was going to be about 8 people, has now turned into 16 and counting. My thoughts, if I've got to clean for 2, might as well make it worth it my time and be 20! And because I'm just a little to OCD, with an outside party, you have to do the inside and outside. This girl has been busy! The yard is looking really good though. :)
 Here's another layout I created this past week. It was for another challenge, while I had it completed by the deadline, I did not get it uploaded, and it's ok. I still posted it on thier site the next morning saying I just wanted to share. Our little cupcake, in the pool, appears to have turned her head and be fussing at someone, and this little caption just came to mind when I saw the photo. She is a mess and I'm afraid going to be really spoiled, but by her Aunt Jessica, not me. The layout, it was a lift a member challenge, and you can see the blog post here if you like along with a link the the member I lifted in the comments section.Gossamer Blue Member Lift
I really liked this layout, and now that I've lifted it, have to say I love it! So many great layers.

Wanted to include a little picture of our cupcake, to mark time, for when I look back on the blog. By the way, have you all noticed that there is not near as much traffic on your blogs as there was once before. I know people are still blogging, so we are all still out there, guess just not many leave comments anymore. AND, blogger is not my friend this morning, so please forgive everything being all together, with no paragraphs. Some exciting news for me, I've been wanting to take Karen Russell's photography class for.ev.er! I have such a crush on her and her style, I finally signed up. It starts next month, and I'm super excited! Wishing you all a good Monday, and great week!!

Dream Weaver

Can you believe this little beauty is almost 4 months old and this is the first layout I've made with the 2000 pictures I've taken of her.

This layout was created with Fancy Pants Wonderful Day Line.  I'm entering it in the Fancy Pants/Gossamer Blue Guest Design Team Spot.

There are lots of layers going on with this one.  I even used vellum to create a layer and a softer dreamy feel.  I stitched a few things down, and really like that added touch, and of course there is some misting.  This is the first contest I've entered, so wish me luck, and even if I don't get picked, I've still got a really nice layout completed of Cupcake!

I think this is the first layout I've completed in some time now, still staying pretty busy with the yard, and of course the baby, but I have to say, this was fun.  I realize how much I miss playing with paper!

Thanks for taking a minute of your busy day to stop by! Have yourself a wonderfully fabulous day!

Tomorrow will make 2 months since...

I have posted on my blog!  I wish I could tell you I'd been off doing most exciting things!   But, sadly, that is not the truth!  I have been playing with the baby, a lot.  I've been watching Ranger ballgames, a lot!  I have been on the computer, a lot, this dang laptop seems to be able to go where I go.  I've certainly not been blogging, or processing photos, nope, I've been playing Candy Crush and Farm Heros!  Someone please save me now!!!  Guess what, admitting you have a problem does not make you feel better!

I've also been working in my yard most days, until dark for the last month.  Seriously, month.  The amount of shrubs and trees to trim or weeds to pull in this yard is crazy insane!  There are 46 shrubs, that is no lie, then Crepe Myrtle trees, and flower beds that seem to never end.  What was I thinking when I said oh I must have this place!  It is all starting to look much more like I want it to.  In the back anyway, I still need to do some work out front.  I personally think that if I work the beds on the east side out back, that it should be a rule that no weeds grow back in all summer long!  You move over to the west side, and just when you are almost done, yep, weeds be growing on the east side!  That is just not right!

So, between work, baby, yard, house, dogs, Ranger baseball, and husband, when is a girl supposed to blog?  My tan is looking good though!

Now that bloggerville knows I'm still alive, I'm hitting the road.  Heading to Jessica's to help her this afternoon.   I'm not sure just yet if these kids are going to keep me young or put me in a early grave.
Guess I can rest when I'm no longer alive, right! :)

But, before I go, you know I've got to post a picture or two.  or maybe more :)

I was doing so good burning through my old kits, cranking out the layouts, then, summer.  sigh, I'll get back in there soon.

 

These pictures are courtesy of either Sondra or Susan, or both, from when 3 grown women went to the corn maze at the pumpkin patch. 

and because not everyone facebooks and has seen this little cutie.  This was from last weekend, she is growing fast.

and we can't forget this little diva!  She is a rockstar!

 

And since that little cutie in the last picture just jumped in my lap, I'd say it's time to sign off.  Have a great weekend everyone!

I have a confession

I have been super lazy the last couple of weeks.   seems it all started about the time I got the laptop.  thinking that might not have been so smart!  I was on a super roll creating layouts, cranking out several a week, then poof, it all stopped.  all because I can now sit in the recliner while playing candy crush on facebook!  it's dreadful, and I say to myself, get up get up, go do something, and then myself says, oh but you have a life left!  Not tonight!  Tonight I am going to work in my flower beds, I think, depends on how much willpower I have come 6pm.

Here's a layout about Tommy the Toad, who lives in my backyard each spring, summer, and fall.  He was there when we first moved in, loving the pool I guess.  I even had to kill a few snakes to keep him safe.  I really didn't expect to see him the following year, but as we opened the pool, we found him under the tarp, his home for winter.  He's been in our yard ever since, and yes, it's the same one!  I even made him a house 2 years ago, and last year, Tammy came to live with him and they had babies.  I'm really a bit surprised at my fascination with this toad!  I'm sure the entire neighborhood is as well, because they can all hear my screams of excitement when I yell to David, "Tommy's Back, Tommy's Back!!"

The lighting on my pictures isn't the greatest, because I didn't worry about it, thinking I'd adjust it with photoshop, except I'm too busy playing Candy Crush to figure out photoshop!!  See a pattern here!

easy day

it's a beautiful day in Oklahoma today. sun is shining and I need to get outside and do some yard work but can't seem to.   my laptop arrived this week, and while I was excited to get it, getting everything loaded onto it is really time consuming. :)  I've downloaded a trial version of photoshop elements, so I've been playing. and playing. and playing some more.  it's safe to say that I'm hooked!

I haven't even been in my scraproom to play for a few days, but am planning on getting in there during the Ranger game.  do a little scrapping and watch some baseball. 

I've actually set myself up a fantasy baseball team this season, and it's been fun.  David and Matt have one in the same league too, and Matt has been leading in scores since day one.  it's funny, he'll call and we'll talk baseball.  just one more memory we are making.  I think it's cool that he calls me to talk baseball.

it's a bit strange, but I've not much to say.  very unusual for my chatterbox self.

I needed to get my 4 Gossamer Blue layouts posted by today.  so far I've done the 4 each month to get my free album.  one more month to go!  woohoo!!

wishing you all a peaceful week!

Approach with Caution!

I really needed to be wearing a sign with that warning on it around my neck yesterday!  I truly felt for everyone that had to cross my path.  I am blaming it on the time change! I want to start a petition to do away with time change!  Who is with me??  I've been tired all week long, and not just oh it's been a busy day tired, but tired as in I need sleep!  I'm going to be early enough, maybe, it's the time change, I'm telling you!  When I'm tired like that, I don't even want to talk, I know, those of you that know me are shocked right now.  Me, not want to talk, sure you are thinking.  It's true though, and if you say something to me that is going to require and answer from me, well, you should duck!  Plus, I think part of it might be a little stress related, but I'm ignoring that part! Cause good things are a'coming! In 3 weeks, give or take a few days, we'll all be loving on a baby. Spring is on it's way with warmer temps, how can I not be happy for that. 

AND,  it's 8 weeks until I'll be at the Lakehouse for 5 days!  5 wonderful, responsibility free, no worries cause it's all good, hanging with my gals, doing what I want DAYS!

Over the last few weeks as D and I've talked about where we might end up living and all the uncertainty of what is going on, I just keep saying, "as long as you know, I'm not giving up my twice a year lakehouse retreats!"  We may not have money for food, and I might have to walk, but I'm a going to the lakehouse!!  I mean, I'm pretty sure that we signed something in blood, and it's a commitment for life, that it's just not an option to not go.  Yep, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Here are a couple more layouts I finished up last week. They are both from my Gossamer Blue kit, that was so full of love and Valentines.  I really did struggle with them, but, they are done and I'm happy with that.  I've not been as productive this week, but I feel my mojo returning.  It's just the dogs and I tonight, who knows what might happen!

Have yourself a delightful weekend!!

neurotic love & facebook friends

neurotic love and facebook friends, typing those together just seriously made me giggle.  my ramblings today were going to be about facebook friends, and my layout below is about my neurotic dog and how I love him, but after typing my post title, I though wow, neurotic love and facebook friends could certainly be one and the same.

first things first, facebook.  for me facebook is mainly about playing a few games when I'm bored or lazy, or to try and win free scrappy happy things.  I don't post my life business on there.  you'll never know when I am mad at David by reading my wall.  I've been known to use facebook to track what's going on with my kids, but honestly, it just usually ends up putting me in a foul mood when I see something I don't like, and that's been happening a little too often lately I might say. I will sometimes post pics of dogs to share with Jessica and her friend. I truly get tickled every time I use the words, "well, facebook says".  my point is, facebook, for me, does not define nor represent my life, but for some it does, and while I know that, I don't necessarily understand it.  so, when I see that I've been deleted from someones friend list, should I be crushed?  is it wrong for me to find this funny, that a grown adult has taken time from their day to delete me??  and let me tell you, it's not because I'm posting political ramblings or pictures of abused animals, or anything at all.  it would seem that in the last 3 months I've been deleted from 2 facebooks, and I guess I'm just a little shocked at how immature some can be, and maybe confused because I don't know what this is supposed to mean! I do say that with laughter, so please do not think I'm distraught!  these people who have deleted me, they are not just random people, our lives have been entwined, for petes sake, they have places in my scrapbooks!  I'm sure it is supposed to mean something, there is some message they are sending me, like perhaps I don't like you!!! but seriously, why not just come say hey, I don't like you, or I have a problem with this.  because you're deleting me from facebook gives me the giggles!  I'm just saying.  Oh, I should probably say it also lets me know just exactly what type of person they are, and that is much more important than being friends on facebook! :)  and if you are wondering if this is perhaps a message to them, neither read my blog, they are too busy deleting people off facebook! haha

now, on to more fun things, neurotic love!!  my ozzy, he is so neurotic, but I love him so!  neurotic or not, he's mine and I wouldn't change one thing about him!  In this picture, he was not even a year old, and you can see how big he was already.  I'm telling you, he is the biggest yorkie in the history of the world.  The boy is weighing in at 29 pounds and he should be about 7 pounds.  David says he is a giant among his kind, and he is!

This layout is one of the four I need to do with my Gossamer Blue Kit, to get my free album.  I struggled with last months kit, because it was lots of hearts and love and Valentine, which I don't use much of.  I'm not a big Valentine fan, and it's not because my heart was broken on Valentine's day, but more that I see it as a day that merchants want me to spend money to tell some I love them... and please, that's not how I roll. which I think David is secretly happy about because it takes the pressure off.  so, here I have this kit that I'm struggling, thinking I'll do my 4 layouts, but, they will not be ones I just love, and then this!  I came across this picture of ozzy, and he is so stinking adorable.  it's just perfect, and surprise surprise, I love it!  I have to add, this picture of him was before he became neurotic about the camera, now, I have to sneak in and usually I get one shot with the camera.  once he hears the little click, he's gone.

and that is my story of neurotic love and facebook friends.  just remember, if you ever think about deleting me from facebook, it's probably not going to produce the results you wanted.

Shooting Sparks!

it's no secret that cleaning house isn't fun, but it's something that must be done.  I prefer to do it though when no one is at home.  That hasn't been a problem in the past, D would leave for work before I did and get home well after I was at home, then be gone half the weekend.  Not anymore, now he is there all the time.  He isn't one to complain, some men would rather you do all that cleaning when they aren't around, and perhaps it is because I grew up around such men that I prefer to do it when no one is home. I realized I was just going to have to suck it up and clean with D there, because he didn't appear to be going anywhere. I did some grumbling about it, but started anyway, and just as I was almost finished vacuuming the hallway, the vacuum started shooting out sparks and died.  Just died!  I've no doubt that if I'd been happier about performing that chore, the vacuum would still be alive.  It reminded me of another time that I'd blown up a vacuum cleaner and sat in the hall with my arms wrapped around it crying.  That was my Kirby, you know, the vacuum cleaner that could take anything, until it met me.  All I could say is "oh, this is not good!"  I know D thought I meant the vacuum, but I actually meant the fact that we were going to have to get a new one, and today!  It couldn't wait.  He just looked at me, and I know he was getting ready to try and reason with me, but I was quick, because we are talking about clean floors here.  I told him that if we didn't get a new one so I could keep the floors clean, then when we went to sell the house people were going to ask for a $10,000.00 carpet allowance to replace the nasty/dirty/filthy carpets we couldn't clean.  I'm not even sure I finished the sentence before he was out the door.  Guess who has a new vacuum cleaner!   It's really kind of ironic, because a few weeks ago I'd been making plans to spend this past Saturday in Dallas with friends and going to a scrappy expo, but decided to stay home and not spend any money.  I should have gone to Dallas!

These pictures are darker than what I realized, that's what happens when you are up extra early and taking pics before the sun is up.  It looks grayish, but it's really all white.  Pretty crisp white.  I've been wanting to do a total white layout for awhile now, and even though you can't tell from my photos, it's really pretty in person.  So much so that I'm thinking each of my albums needs an all white layout!

And, if you were wondering, I didn't get a snow day today.  It snowed for good 3 hours or more yesterday, but it just all melted.  The roads were nice and clear this morning, so off to work I came.  Probably my last chance for a snow day this year too.  Oh well, if I'd stayed home, I'm sure I'd be glued to SUV reruns with D!

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...

Glitter Girl???

I captured this picture of  Lora and Kathi in deep conversation about something.  I'm guessing it's something that is just simply scrappy wonderful!  What it was, I don't know, but it sure has their attention.  Which wouldn't have been hard at this LSS, it was full of amazing layouts that were on display.

Have yourself a great day!

Dog Gone Wild!

More pics of Zoey and Matt playing after a dip in the pool  I'm not sure which is more entertaining, watching Zoe run from Matt, or Matt chase her... cause we all know there is no way he is going to catch that little speed demon!

A bit of a different layout for me.  I didn't use hardly any paper, just two sheets.  The rest is either washi tape strips or embellies.  That is all washi strips under the pictures.  That tells me if I actually do run out of paper, which is my greatest fear, (it used to be drowning) buuuut, if I do run out of paper, I can use washi tape in it's place!

And that's another page done for the our new home album!

It is almost December 1st, and I'm still not sure how that has happened.  I've bought a total of 3 gifts.  2 for David and 1 for Jessica.  I need to get busy!  It's hard to get into it though, cause we've got 70 and 80 degree temps!  On Nov 29th!!  I am still wearing flip flops!

New Friends

I really had a lot of fun with this layout.  It did not go in the direction I had planned for it to, but that's ok, I'll save that idea for another day!  I've been wanting to create a layout using just some strips of paper and also a layout using the negative parts of a die cut.  Think I used chunks instead of strips, and the butterflies were punched, not a die cut, but I really like it.

Panic mode has set in.  I leave for KY and a U-haul in 19 days. I still have a house not ready to move in, a full household to pack up, and husband determined to drive 13 hours straight through.  Which traveling in a U-haul will probably make it at least a 15 hour drive.  But, I am not stressed!  Yeah, right!  It's all great, going to be one big adventure.  Why I've never driven this far by myself.  And truly I will be by myself in the car, even though I'll be following the U-haul, I'll be myself all alone in the car... and I can sing as loud and as long as I want!  Anyone have any song suggestions to keep me pumped up and energized... oh and calm for when I get lost.  Because I have no doubt, I will get lost, at least once!  And while I'm lost, I wanta be singing fun window rattling songs!

First Splash

It was only fair that D took the first splash in the pool.  He is the one who wrote the big check, sure wanted him to feel as if he was getting his money worth! :) hahaha

Yes, I used pink on this layout!  Yes, it's about my husband! Nope, I don't see a thing wrong with it!  Honestly, it's just what I seemed to be feeling at the moment, what was working for me, and I didn't even give it a second thought. 

Lots and lots of things going on in the house.  Change can be a good thing, right? 

Ozzy doesn't think so.  We've had a guest dog for almost 2 weeks now.  Seems Miss Nikki has discovered that sleeping under the bed is the best.  Since that is Ozzy's spot, and he is a creature of habit, he's not thrilled with sharing his comfy place.  When Nikki goes down under, Ozzy starts pacing. He's on the bed, he's off the bed, then back on the bed, he sighs, rather loudly I might add, with his displeasure.  I'm sure next week I will find this funny, but for now I'm just sleep deprived!