Woo hoo CHA!!!!

I am so excited to be leaving for CHA in just a few minutes. It looks like there's lots of great product being debuted today. I am so thankful to my husband for taking the kids again so I can go and drool over all the new stuff. I'll be back with pictures in the next couple of days. Have a great rest of the weekend!

*** updated *** -- saw lots of great things at the show! Fortunately I was able to see all that was on my list. My feet and lower back are a bit sore, but the experience was well worth it. I wish I could go back for the 3 remaining days, but I'll live. I'm hoping to post some pictures in the next day or two.

Scrapbook Weekend Results

So this past weekend I went to a home in Escondido with friends for a scrapbook weekend. I've done this once before at a different loacation and find that I don't ever know what to bring and don't want to pack up ALL of my stuff. So I decided to bring with me two kits that I had purchased last year from Christine Middlecamp. I paid a pretty penny for each of these kits and they've been sitting in their shipping box for months. The time had come to get them complete.

Can I just say I am so so so happy that I purchased these kits! Christine is an amazing scrapbooker and clearly an amazing kit designer. She doesn't do very many kits in a year so I feel fortunate to have gotten my hands on these when I did. She sells out very quickly.

The first kit I did was for my youngest daughter Makaela. The kit was normally designed to be a garden themed one, but that didn't quite fit me, so I changed the title to my daughter's name and altered a few small things in the album. The foundation for the album is Melissa Frances's Bingo Card Chipboard Album. I learned so many things by working on this album. How to layer, how to make use of small pieces of paper, how to look past the obvious use for a scrapbook supply. I also got a refresher in how to follow written directions. She gives VERY detailed instructions on how to put this puppy together.

The cover:

Page 1:

Page 2:

Page 3:

Page 4 -- I designed this page with extra materials because she didn't use all the pages from the album:

Page 5:

Page 6 (you can tell the light changed right here) -- I designed this page with some of the extra materials because there were some extra pages she didn't use from the album:

Page 7:

Page 8:

The next kit I did of hers was this one. This is the first one I bought. It's foundation uses the Jenni Bowlin Set of 2009 Die Cut Calendar Cards. I love this album. I love the colors! I love the techniques! I love the mixes of papers! And I learned that I really do love Jenni Bowlin!

The Cover:
Page 1:

Page 2:

Page 3:

Page 4:

Page 5:

Page 6:

Page 7:

Page 8:

The greatest part was all of the materials left over from the kits. She really packs them up with product. It's well worth the money. I made two more layouts, with it. I think I might submit them to a contest so you'll have to wait to see those. But here's one I can share with you that I used the Ever After line by Cosmo Cricket. I had made these fabric flowers and really wanted to use them. But I didn't have any paper with me that matched this color pink. My friend suggested using them with colors that didn't have any pink. Great idea!

I learned how to make these flowers from this tutorial. There are hundreds of tutorials out there on how to make fabric flowers. Just Google "how to make fabric flowers".

So much to talk about ...

First off, choosing the word "peace" as my word for 2010 has been a good thing. While there are many times that I feel unpeaceful, there have been many more times when I have realized that feeling coming on and have focussed on being peaceful. Asking that God give me a peaceful heart. And for the most part, it works for me. I am able to calm myself down and deal with whatever is at hand. I am keeping my eyes open for artsy things that incorporate the word peace for my home. I plan for it to be in many spots in our home so I can channel that feeling at all times.

Something that is breaking my heart is the Haiti earthquake. I don't watch the news and most of the time life is too hectic to even read online articles. I was made aware of it yesterday on MSN's homepage but didn't get a chance to read details. Listening to NPR this morning, I became very aware of the devastating details. I am so saddened by this. I cannot imagine the condition that the country is in and the desperation so many people are feeling. I ask that you pray for the people of Haiti who are suffering, for their government to be able to meet their needs as best as possible, for outside countries to be able to lend assistance, and for all the children that are left without parents and for the parents who are left without children.

Months ago I wrote a post about my step mother's diagnosis with Stage 4 Melanoma which had grown on the outside of one of her ovaries. It is a very rare occurence where the Melanoma grows on the inside and there is little research on it. The statistics of such a cancer are not good. Anyways, in case any of you are curious, she has been undergoing some serious bio-chemotherapy. The schedule was as such: one week in the hospital constantly connected to various drugs. Then sent home for two weeks. During the first of the two weeks at home, she feels terrible. Very sleepy, very nauseous, no appetite, etc. During the second week at home, she begins to feel close to human again. When the two weeks is up, she goes back into the hospital to do another round. After every two rounds, they do an MRI to see what kind of progress has been made. So far she has had two MRI's come back showing positive results. THANK GOD! If you do the math, you can conclude that she's done at least 4 rounds of this intense treatment. Well, she's actually done 5 and was supposed to begin #6 today, but given the constant low white blood cell count, her doctors have told her she's done with them. No more! Her body can't take it. This is actually good news for her. It was getting to the point where she was becoming depressed over not feeling good. She doesn't like not having energy to do anything. She is not considered no evidence of disease (NED), but her doctor thinks she would never be able to get to that point anyway. And for some unknown reason, she can never again start up these treatments again should the cancer begin to grow. They have altered her immune system and expect it to continue its attack on the cancer cells even without drugs. So for the next 8 weeks she is to recuperate. Then they'll give her another MRI and see where to go from there. So please keep her in your prayers if you will. She's a wonderful lady. Only 47 years old. She has much more to give this world. So I thought I would update on her.

Along similar lines, there's a little girl's story I have been following. Her name is Kate McRae and she is 6 years old. She's a victim of brain cancer and it's a rare and agressive one. I learned of her from Jennifer McGuire and her Cards For Kids campaign. Her mother tries to post updates everyday here. She's a wonderful writer and does so to gain prayers for her sweet daughter. I highly recommend you following her story, sharing it with other, but most of all praying for Kate. Despite the sadness of the situation, the posts are very inspirational.

On a happier note, this weekend I get to sneak off for a scrapbook weekend with quite a few friends. There's a place in Escondido that is dedicated to scrapbookers. So I am looking forward to that. My hope is to complete two different kits I ordered last year from Christine Middlecamp as well as to possible complete my December Daily 2009 album. It's only three projects but something tells me the 2.5 days I will be gone won't be enough time. We'll see. I will post pictures of what does get completed when I return.

Have a wonderful weekend if I don't get back here before then.

PEACE: My Word for 2010

I tossed around many words. Relaxation. Patience. Plan. Organized. I couldn't decide. Then I realized the common factor behind any of the words I was contemplating was the desired feeling they would bring me were I to be successful. That feeling? Peace.

Yes I wish desperately for this wonderful world we live in to achieve world peace, but I think I want something I have a little more control over.

For me peace is going to come when I am not constantly rushing around trying to get something done minutes before it's needed. It means planning ahead for meals. Laying the girls clothes the night before. Buying gifts for friends well in advance; and also making their cards in advance. Making small lists and crossing off items as they are finished. Taking time out each day to focus on those that need prayer. Going to church. Working out regularly. Eating more healthy. Confronting difficult situations head on rather than trying to hide from them.

I am always reevuating myself. Trying to be a better person. I think I am a good person but am not sure that I like how I deal with things. If I can succeed at all I have listed above I think I will feel a peace within. One that will allow me time to enjoy life. I love life but am not sure I enjoy all I have.

So here's to PEACE in 2010!

New Year's Resolutions In Progress

I think I am going to have many in 2010. Hopefully this blog post will serve as my reminder list. I may even periodically come back to it and edit it. Edit by adding more resolutions as well as checking some off as they're accomplished.

So I will get the normal ones out of the way.
1. Lose weight (does anyone ever want to gain weight?)
2. Be a better mom
3. Be closer to God
4. Be a better wife
5. Go to church more regularly


Now for some different ones.
Get Hannah's bedroom fully decorated (dresser refinished, artwork up, and curtain for her window made)
Get Makaela's bedroom fully decorated (artwork up and curtain for her window made)
Get our bedroom fully decorated (new bedspread, walls antiqued, curtains, artwork up, buy a piece of furniture - could be a chaise lounge or a dresser type piece)
Get valance for above kitchen window
Get some sort of drapery piece for back door
Organize all of the junk in our office (paid bills, medical paperwork, receipts, books, etc)
Get scrapbooking layouts into albums
Find a Christmas tree topper
Have Christmas gifts purchased by end of November
Plan a nice 35th birthday for Joel
Create a prayer list so I can reference something every night
Take more video of the girls
Plan out meals for the entire year (not 365 meals at once, but get a workable basic plan in motion and then plan out the meals on a weekly basis)
Train for the Camp Pendleton Mud Run on 6/5/10
Get older pictures printed and ready to be scrapbooked
Get Hannah signed up for some extracaricular activity (soccer, karate, dance, etc.)
Do a Jillian Michaels workout DVD at least once a week
Get the kids exercising more
Teach Hannah how to ride a bike with no training wheels
Exercise the dogs more

December Daily 30

Nothing too much exciting happened here today. Went to work. Came home. Watched a Food Network Challenge episode with Hannah (Shrek the Musical cakes). Made dinner. Ate dinner. Got the girls bathed and in bed. Joel and I did a Jillian Michaels workout DVD. She's the one from The Biggest Loser. Boy of boy did she kick my butt! I don't think I'll be able to move tomorrow.

I downloaded one of my Christmas gifts. These Photoshop actions. I am really looking forward to playing with them.

That's about it. Our plans for the weekend are to take all the Christmas stuff down. It kind of makes me sad. We work so hard to get it up and then rush through the whole season without really enjoying it.

My favorite memories of this past Christmas are:

Hannah being very excited for Christmas this year and really grasping Santa Claus and all his powers

Makaela and Hannah both being obsessed with hearing "This Is Halloween" from Nightmare Before Christmas

Hannah and her Christmas performance with Johnny Rockets afterwards

Hannah's versions of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer and Silent Night:
"... then one froggy Christmas Eve ... won't you glide my sleigh tonight"
"Silent Midnight, Holy Midnight ..."

Getting the BEST pants ever for Christmas from Joel.

This scent of candles and wall flowers from Bath and Bodyworks.

And of course being with my precious family. I love them so much and truly just having them is the best Christmas present ever.

December Daily 29

Getting back into the normal swing of things.



Being Tuesday, I didn't work today so I stayed at home all day with the girls. Didn't get out of our PJs til about 7PM and that was so we could all go to Chipotle for dinner. A great day.



Hannah and I made brownies with her Perfect Brownie (courtesy of Santa). And believe it or not, the thing actually worked. The three of us girls watched the Nightmare Before Christmas (also courtesy of Santa) and I managed to get some cleaning done. All the downstairs floors are clean! Don't ask me about upstairs though. I did some straightening in my scraproom. There's still a LONG way to go, but I made a dent in it.



Life is good. Calm and peaceful. Can't ask for more. And this day is my special Papa Hal's birthday. He passed away several years ago, but I remember him fondly and miss him dearly. So happy birthday Papa Hal!

December Daily 28

Ahhhh ... back home and Christmas is FINALLY over! No more celebrations. No more gift giving. Time to begin to clean up the evidence of Christmas. It was a great holiday. We are so blessed to have so many people to celebrate with. But it is nice to be home. The girls are asleep in their beds. Tomorrow I will put all their new toys away, hopefully pack up some of them to be introduced at a later date, and hopefully give some of the ones we don't play with anymore away.



Tomorrow it is back to the same old routine. One that I have missed and look forward to having back in my life. With a few modifications hopefully. I am trying to think of my New Year's resolutions. I think I may have a few of them. Some that will hopefully make me a better person and my family happier.



I heard of a tradition where some people pick a new word at the beginning of each year to focus on. You are supposed to embrace the word and carry it with you throughout the year. It can be anything. Something you want to add to you life. Something you want to subtract from your life. A word to spark creativity. Anything. I am thinking my word should be patience or acceptance. But I will think on this some more over the next couple of days.

December Daily 25

Christmas Day! Finally! After much stress, the holiday has arrived. How sad is it that I stressed over this wonderous day. I tried so hard to focus on the meaning behind it, but failed miserably when trying to buy for all of our loved ones. I am sad that buying gifts for my loved ones didn't bring me joy. Yes, watching them open the gifts brought me great joy, but the experience of picking something special out for them did not. Something to work on for next year I guess. I think I will begin my Christmas shopping now. :)

I think this Christmas will be the last one we have to wake up our girls. At 8:00AM I went into Hannah's room and awoke her. We had to in order to make it to mass on time. Then I got Makaela up. I think she could have easily slept another 2 hours if I had let her ... poor thing. We went downstairs and Hannah saw the empty plate of cookies and carrots with a special note from Santa. Mommy had to leave the note for him from the girls because they were just too tired when we got home from my dad's last night. They opened their stockings and both found that they had received a special ornament from Santa just like they had asked for in their letters.

Next it was over to the tree for presents. Hannah immediately saw Makaela's new tricycle and needless to say they were distracted with that for a few minutes. I think we could have easily gotten away with just the one tricycle a sa gift and been fine. But they seemed to enjoy opening their other gifts. Hannah had fun watching us open the special gifts she made us in school. A treasured ornament for each of us. Hannah received the Perfect Brownie and slippers like she had asked for along with a plant kit, a bath tub trumpet, a book light, a lap drawing table, and the movie Monsters, Inc. Makaela got the tricycle, a puzzle, a cobbler's bence, the movie A Bug's Life, and a few more items. The girls both got the movie Nightmare Before Christmas (side note: they have been obsessed with the song "This is Halloween" from that movie ever since we all went to Disneyland and went on Haunted Mansion and Joel downloaded the song to his iPod). And for each other, Hannah picked out a special Disney princess set of musical instruments for Makaela and Makaela got Hannah a paid of Snow White high heels. Joel spoiled me with a bunch of stylish cold weather clothes. My favorite of which are these REI pants. Oh my gosh!!!! You won't believe how snuggly and warm these things are! And best of all, they have a nice fit and I can totally wear them out and about without feeling like I am walking around in trashy sweatpants. I also got a few tops which I love. Seriously, at Christmas time, he goes nuts! I can never compare. What did I get him? Underwear. I know boring. But the kind he really likes are $25 a pair. I got him 3 pair. And a bladder cleaning kit for his Camelback. But he outdid me again. Our pattern seems to be he gets me good at Christmas and I get him good at Valentine's Day. So I have some thinking to do.

The girls before the opening commenced. Makaela snagged a leftover piece from Santa's cookie plate.



Hannah next to one of the gifts she made for me and Joel.


Each time we've gone to a store with snowglobes, she's begged to touch them. So she really enjoyed this special gift.

Poor little Makaela's legs are not quite long enough to reach the peddals yet. But she knows this bike is hers. Despite how often Hannah rides it.

Daddy's special ornament.


My special ornament.

Then it was off to church at 11:00. We were pleasantly surprised to see the Fitkowski family there too. We all sat together and it was great. I really felt good and renewed after mass. We have not been good at going every Sunday. As a matter of fact, we're one of those families that only hits in on the major holidays. Something both Joel and I despise. I think I will really push to get us there more frequently. Using the kids ages and energy levels has been too convenient of an excuse for too long now.

After church we came home for a little down time. Then it was over to my Grandma Merrion's for a short visit.

Hannah with her Teta Lou ...


Ahhh ... the green Hefty vests. Funny always to see. My Papa Hal (now deceased) used to be a buyer for Hughes grocery store chain. So he would get ALL sorts of product from various companies. I am guessing he must have gotten 100 of these vests in various sizes. Literally for YEARS and years and years, these vests have been given as gifts. Funny how my grandma does not seem to recollect this and continues to give them out to people who already received them (i.e. Joel).


After a rather bried gift exchange there, we went up the hill to my Grandma Carol's. Her tree was once again AMAZING! I try so hard to get my tree to sparkle like hers and fail each year. Hannah took the only pictures of it this year (see below). When we came home that night Joel looked at our tree and said, "I feel like we're so inadequate." :) Tell me about it. Another something for next year I suppose.

I love this picture of my girls helping my Grandma Carol distribute gifts to the family. I remember doing this as a little girl. My grandma has always lined up all the gifts for her kids and all the grandkids (and now great grandkids) in her hallway. Then at present time, she gets helpers and hands them out one at a time. My grandma was nice and let them open their gifts right then and there.


Look at this tree! It's amazing! What's more amazing is that she has a ton more ornaments that she ran out of time to add to the tree.


A close up of how loaded the tree is ...

We got home late. Put the girls to bed and passed out ourselves ... wWell fed, completely spoiled by many, and happy to have such wonderful family.

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas my blog reading friends. I hope you have a safe and happy holiday!