What a year...

...it has been...and it just flew by...each year seems to go by faster the older I get and this year was no exception.



As I reflect on the past year so many things have happened...some bad...but so many good things too. As far as the bad go...I feel like its all just a bunch of crazy shit and I will leave it as that...I know what kind of person I am and I will not allow it to get the best of me...we are all human...we all make mistakes...I made a mistake by lowering myself to a level were I let my emotions get the best of me and I said some very mean and hurtful things, however, it didn't change the circumstances, and it certainly didn't change the person who I am...the person my parents raised me to be...a strong woman who HATES being lied too...a woman who thought family meant the world only to be faced with the realization that it evidently isn't...I learned that with whatever time I have left on this earth...I will spend it making my children and husband happy not to mention myself and not worry about trying to figure out why someone is mad at me or trying to convince them that I truly cared about them...life is too short to play silly games...it is what it is...we are in charge of our own happiness...and I don't purposely set out to hurt people or make them miserable...I can't be the reason for other peoples misfortunes.

Today I had to share some things with my kiddos and it wasn't easy...the two youngest may not have understood "everything" but they understood more then I thought they would, but my oldest most certainly understood it all...it hurt me so much to see the pain on their faces but there was no sense in hiding it from them.

...now on a more positive note our new house is moving right along and in a few short months we will be in our new home enjoying LIFE and creating new MEMORIES in it!

...more positive things in 2009...this year one of the biggest for me was the goal I set for myself at the beginning of the year when I decided I was going to run a 1/2 marathon...yes a whole 13.1 miles...well that might not seem like a lot, but when I decided to do this I couldn't even run 1 mile! I used to be a BIG goal setter...something that my dad instilled in me and it was something that I lost when I became a mom :( sad I know...but that does happen...you give and give to your children and sometimes you forget about yourself...well this goal was all about me (yes I know how selfish that sounds). In April, I started running short distances at a time...it wasn't long before my body in numerous places was trying to tell me I was CRAZY for doing this...but I wasn't going to give up. By the end of June I was up to 8 miles at a time...and in October I set out on the cold morning to run my 13.1 mile race...I remembered all my dad's advice from when I used to run track back in the day...but that kick at the end about killed me...but it didn't matter because I knew I was crossing that finish line...crawling or running...the last bit of the run I listened to my "fast song" probably 3 times in a row...and it will forever be known as that...my "fast song" I ended up taking off my headphones close to the end and that's when I gave it everything I had...and I beat the time I set for myself...it didn't matter that I was bleeding through my shoe or my ankle was bleeding...I couldn't even feel that...but boy did it feel good to be done...I'm not sure what felt better...actually being done running or having finished the goal I set for myself...I think it was the goal ;)

I wanted to run some more races this coming year..but with a broken tailbone and possible other fractures I am not sure that will be possible...hopefully my doctors appointment will be able to give me the answers I need and a bit of relief.

2010 will bring many new changes for us! We welcome them all :D

Happy New Year from all of us!

Welcoming 2010 SALE!

Unity has done it again...10 New Releases today! An after Christmas SPECIAL - just for YOU! For a very limited time - $10 Each -Free Shipping over $25!





Right before the Holiday's I had the chance put together this tag using a couple of these new kits...Spring Unity and Best Wishes & Blooms.



Have a great day!

2 days till Christmas!

...and then on the 26th BIG SALE over at UNITY! NEW RELEASES...I will have some new projects using the new stuff...one is already done and I hope to get a couple more completed if time allows.



...the kids are excited as ever! Everyday they tell me...Santa is going to bring me "this" or "that" and I have to say, "hummm we'll see...just a few days to go"

I think they finally stopped touching the presents under the tree...it will be fun to watch them open all their new gifts! Even if the tree didn't get all the decorations on it...Stuart and I bought all BRAND NEW ornaments this year - and there was one more ornament I wanted and I never made it out to get - so the tree is missing those and a topper...but it still looks beautiful.



I still have a couple of cookies I'd like to make but with my little helper gone tonight I may just take the night off...Camryn has been such a great helper in the kitchen...yesterday we made caramel corn for Movie Night and it turned out AWESOME! I have the best recipe for caramel corn thanks to my neighbor in Spokane.

Today will be a busy day...Stuart's work party and then Memaw's Birthday...when Ben was pretty little he would always spend the night and sleep under the Christmas tree with her and in the morning she makes them a BIG breakfast. So tonight is the night the kids will be doing that...they can't wait. I wish I could be there to take some pictures but I think I will just enjoy my quiet house :) ...maybe I can get a few pictures before we leave.

I hope I can even make it through the day...after Movie Night I started a project using a new CHA Release and I stayed up till 1am...and I can't even share it yet :( but I will be able to share it soon...

Have a super day!

Countdown to Christmas...

5 days to go...and the kids wouldn't let me forget even if I wanted to...the excitement is in FULL swing at our house...

Yesterday...we started the morning out by buying a ton of stuff to make our goodies (I know I have totally waited till the last minute)...and then headed to church...came home and watched Julie & Julia, which I really liked...then headed over to the Grandparents for dinner and made some peanut butter balls...



...obviously this was his favorite part! When I got home I made some candycane cookies some of my favorite during the holiday season...and this year I followed the recipe EXACTLY! lol

I almost forgot to share these...isn't this the cutest idea? I didn't come up with it...but I saw it somewhere and I thought...ooohh I have to make some of these myself!



...it was awfully quiet this afternoon...and when I went to check on Camryn and Mason this is how I found them...

...I think I would be perfectly content if these two would stay like this forever...they are the best of friends.

Yeahhhhh its Friday....

...the last day of school and then its Christmas Vacation!!! ...and also its time to share my Friends with Flair project...

The kids took these with them to school today...I pulled out Frame this Alpha and Bright & Merry Wishes...I made these quick little tags for their teachers gifts.



This morning before the kids get home I need to do my paperwork and get my package ready and in the mail...I was so thrilled to receive an email from Susan over at PaperCrafts...I will have a card in the Card Creations 8! WOO HOO!!!

Be sure to check out the Unity Blog for the complete list of Blogs participating today!

Hope everyone is have a super Friday!

...and I'll leave you with this photo of Mason...who's finally getting to go to school again this week...sporting his "I Believe" shirt...its been so fun around the house with the kids excitement for Christmas!

{Priceless Reflections} It's a "UNITY" Thursday Everyone!

...and a HAPPY one at that! :) The kids are on a 2-hour delay, I'm picking up my quilts from the quilter and then all I need to do is handstitch the binding on and they are ready for Christmas!!!

...and Stuart and I have a couple meetings to deal with about the house...the roof should be started today (fingers crossed) :D It's going to be a BUSY day!

Here's the December Scrapbooking/Collage Collection...its full of some amazing stamps as always...and I used a couple on my LO below...


Here's a close-up...


...and the full image...


...for my background I used a piece of October Afternoon that I have had laying around forever...then grabbed a REALLY OLD piece of CTMH vellum...used that to journal on...and everything else is from the Artsy Urban Collection by GCD Studios.

Thanks for stopping by today! Be sure to check Angela's Blog to see all the details about the Garage Sale that's going on...and check out the rest of the Design Team for their creations for today!

...let it snow...let it snow...let it snow!

...today the kids had a two hour delay! They were thrilled...me not so much...I had a doctors appointment at 9 o'clock and I was trying to figure out how I was going to get there...I hate driving in ice...and after yesterday's little twirl on the ice I really wasn't looking forward to getting back out there...so after hearing the news the plan was the kids were coming with us to my appointment...oh boy, this was going to be a fun morning. Then I had a good friend offer to watch the kids and get them on the bus...but I wasn't willing to be a burden so I said no...then at the last minute another friend offered to get the kids off to school so Ben and Camryn caught a different bus this morning and made it school safely...which I am very happy about...because their REAL bus wasn't so lucky...so I am glad they weren't on it.

Here's the kids this morning waiting for the bus...they loved the snow!



This afternoon the guys delivered our roofing for our new house...we are hoping this ice storm passes and they can begin working :) The temperatures are supposed to get above freezing tomorrow...so we are hopeful that can start soon.

SNOW...and still no shingles...

...well we are scheduled to start our roof on the new house this week...but we had our first snow yesterday. I joked with Camryn..."its snowing in your new bedroom!" On Wednesday, our windows were delivered...evidently we are still waiting on a couple.


...on Thursday, they finally finished the doormer...this is one of the neatest rooms in the house...and I think I am in LOVE with our staircase...its 5 feet wide!



...on Friday they started working on the front porch...we have a meeting this morning to talk to our builder about it.

...on Saturday, we brought STARBUCKS out to the workers who started installing the windows...then we took a little road trip out of town!


We did a little shopping and then we stopped for some lunch and Mason loved this so much we almost didn't get any...


On the way home we first stopped at the house to see our windows...and the workers were just packing up for the day...they were FROZEN!





...well I need to get ready for my meeting. Hope everyone enjoys what's left of the weekend. We have 5 more days of school and then the kids are home till January...so that means I have 5 more days to make sure CHRISTMAS is ready...actually 3 because I have a couple appointments this week :( I hope I can get it all done...

*Sweet Affections* + Unity = Happy Stampers!

Unity's Exclusive Stampin' Store Kit!
{found ONLY in STORES - available for wholesale purchase ONLY}
December Kit {Sweet Affections}

Isn't this kit just amazing? I love the sentiments and the trio of trees is my absolute favorite! The card I am sharing today I used the squirrels {you+me} ...how cute are they? ...and the "thinking of you and smiling" I just seperated them and placed it across the bottom of my card.

Don't forget that Unity has a BIG sale going on right now! Everything is 25% off with the code: JOLLY
...hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! Be sure to check out all the rest of the inspiration using this kit on the Design Team Girls Blogs.

Happy Thursday!

I almost didn't think I was going to be able to pull this off...but I did manage to sit down last night and complete this LO of Mason and his good friend...this time of the year always seems to be so busy and then to add all the crafts to be made on top of it all - there's just not much time to do it all...the days go by so fast it seems like I get up in the morning and before I know it...its already time to go to bed again...and I am having the most crazy dreams at night!

Well enough of my babbling...on this LO I used stamps from the December KOTM...and I did something a bit different I went 8.5x11 instead of 12x12...I think I could have stamped on a piece of cardboard and threw this photo of these adorable little boys and it still would have turned out just fine...aren't they the cutest?



...be sure to check out Angela's Blog for today's specials over at Unity Stamping Co. and the other Design Team Girls' Blogs for some inspiration.

Here's a great quote for the day, "If you can't be content with what you have received, be thankful for what you have escaped."

ALL DONE :D

I finished the tops of these two quilts and now they are off to the quilter...I will gladly pay for someone to quilt these babies for me. When I get them back I will hand-stitch the binding on and be completely finished! It has been a long time since I made something and it felt good! I have ideas for more...but I think I will wait now until after Christmas to complete anything else.





Well I think I need to head to STARBUCKS for the 2nd time today - I'm tired and I still need to make something special for tomorrow's UNITY post...getting ready to head out for a meeting on the house. Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday!

A Year's Worth of Inspiration...

Today, Jessica Sprague launched her very first Idea Guide, over at JessicaSprague.com. There are 46 incredible pages of layouts, stories, and projects to spark your creativity, and showcase the beautiful products available at JessicaSprague.com (all the supplies used in the showcased projects are hyperlinked!). This PDF file is ready for you to download and use on your computer, or print and place in a binder!


All you need to do to get this for yourself is click here, head to our home page, and download Issue 1 of Inspiration in Hand for FREE. And be on the lookout for new FREE issues of Inspiration in Hand every quarter!

Do you see my sweet Camryn right there! awwhhh one of my favorite LOs of her Tap Recital!Be sure to check out Issue 1 of Inspiration in Hand!

I've been TOO BUSY to update...

...but here's what the house looked like on Friday evening...things are still moving along...MOST of the trusses are on the house now...still waiting on the last few...we've hit a few bumps but that's to be expected since this is a custom home and its never been built before...we met with the builder this morning and decided to move a wall, finalized all our moulding, interior doors, interior stone/fireplace and we also discussed solutions for another small problem but I know it will all work out in the end :) We saw the entire timeline for our building process and I was pleasantly surpised...I think I will just keep our finish date and then really be surprised when its time to move in!

...and here is my last LO for "Celebrate the Seasons" over at 2Peas. I just can't believe this year has already passed so quickly.

Credits: December Collection by CreativityByCrystal which is available at JessicaSprague.com and my favorite date stamps and brushes by Karla Dudley.

Happy Thursday!!!

Make sure you take a peek at all the fabulous deals over on Angela's Blog?

For today's LO I used pieces from the last months November KOTM and the December KOTM.

On Monday night Camryn lost her first tooth...finally! She was so funny she had to tell her Memaw,who then told her..."so you think she'll be able to find you?" and she replied, "oh of course she has a list!" It was pretty funny - she was so serious.


Credits: Template by Jen Martakis, Nov. & Dec. KOTM by UNITY Stamping Co. Lots of Labels, Dec. Paper Collection & Bunches of Borders by CreativityByCrystal, Smile and Date Brushes by Karla Dudley.

Thanks for stopping by today! And be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team Blogs...

December 1st already!!!

How can that be? Only 31 more days and the year will be over!
With a new month beginning...that means there's a new Unity KOTM to share...look at this one!



Here's what I did with it...It's pretty simple but I love this photo of Stuart and I and I LOVED this weekend away we had together!






Be sure to stop by Angela's Blog and visit the rest of the Design Team's Blog for inspiration to start this magical month!

Another holiday has come and gone...

Thanksgiving morning we were all up and out the door by 7:30am and heading over to the Turkey Trot. It was cold but luckily the wind wasn't blowing...there were so many people probably because they were hoping to see Sarah Palin...my guess is that many people were disappointed...we didn't see her...but according to the news she was there. Afterwards, we headed to STARBUCKs to get some of our favorite coffee from our favorite people. Here's a quick photo collage I threw together with some photos.

...after the run we stopped by the new BIG house...we were told that they would be working and I was happy to see that they weren't - no one needed to be working on Thanksgiving Day. We took a picture of the kids standing in the entry and in the windows of my new office :D (the view behind the kids in the doorway will be there...because that two story wall will be all windows.)



I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with friends and family...we did...this was a day that should be spent with the ones you love and the ones who love you back. We enjoyed the day with Stuart's parents and Grandpa and youngest brother and fiance from Seattle. There was so much food and I ate too much! This year I was in charge of making the homemade mashed potatoes...somehow in the rush at the store I grabbed a bag of red potatoes instead of brown but they still turned out fabulous! I also made my favorite pumpkin crisp and homemade rolls...I was pleasantly surprised when they raised :D woohoo I have been having a hard time over the last couple of years making them and they turned out perfectly...I used my sister-in-laws recipe and they were a big hit at dinner!

Here's my November LO for "Celebrate the Seasons" over at 2Peas...and I followed the sketch almost exactly...it just made it easier for me finish up :D


Credits: Nov. Paper Collection, Crysanthemum Papers, Au Natural Elements, Natural Papers, Bunches of Borders by CreativityByCrystal available at www.JessicaSprague.com, Karla Dudley: Date Stamp & Thanksgiving Freebie, Gingham Ribbon by Pamela Odd, Stitches by Sande Krieger.

...we never go out for Black Friday but Stuart and I headed to the store at about 10:30...we were looking for one thing...grabbed it and came right back home! I need to get online and place one last order - then just grab a couple more things and we are done...and it feels good since its not even December 1st!

Last night we went out to dinner with friends and then to see the movie The Blind Side...I loved it...it was a great movie...and on the way home...we drove by the house to see what was accomplished for the day...the upstairs floor is on :) We should still be on schedule to have trusses delivered on Monday.

...and the UNITY WINNER is...

Katherine S said...
Beautiful LO! I love the your use of stamps! I have to say - your kitty is so adorable!
November 24, 2009 9:19 AM

Katherine please send me your mailing info by leaving a comment in this post and I will get the stamps out to you...this is what I will be sending you...

Floral Friends & Shurbery Tree

Thank you everyone for all your kind comments - yesterday Tamara asked, "What parts of the layout are digital, and what is paper? Do you design your digital pages with the paper additions in mind, or do you just print the pages then play to see what to add?

I always plan out my LOs before I ever get started and I always design my pages with the paper additions in mind...sometimes they don't go in the exact place as I planned but since my digital LO is already printed out its really easy just to move those paper piecings around until I like how it looks. Sometimes I will print a digital LO and trim it down and place it on top of a piece of 12x12 cardstock (I don't always do this). When making a hybrid LO...there's really no one way to do it...I can print out digital items and add them to paper - or make and entire digital LO and add traditional scrapping supplies...the combination of both is what makes it "hybrid". I challenge you to try it for yourself...and if you do I'd love to see it :D

Happy Stamping!

2nd post for the day but too excited to wait...

...the kids and I just got back from checking on the progress for the day!

OH MY GOSH we can hardly believe it!!! Yesterday it looked like this...


...and about 2o minutes ago it already looked like this...


...the kids were so excited and asked will we get to move in by Christmas? Silly kids they have no concept of time! We are moving right along...trusses are being delivered early next week...windows were ordered today and I believe the plumbing rough-in is coming up next :D We couldn't be happier!

Unity's Design Team Tuesday!

...featuring ME!!! Thank you for stopping by today...today I am sharing my new LO "Christmas Kitty" I used the {Bitty Background} set and {Joy & Wonder}.


Other: Kraft Cardstock, Making Memories Letter Stickers...everything else was by GCD Studios, Collection Used: Christmas Sleigh


..and if you didn't see my LO on Angela's Blog here it is again :D


Credits: CreativityByCrystal: Nov. Papers, Digital Date Stamp by Karla Dudley, Unity Stamps: {Capture Life} and {Retro BBQ}.


If you leave a comment today I will put your name in a drawing for some Unity Stamps :D I will post the winner tomorrow...

A FANTASTIC WEEKEND

...we had the best weekend...Stuart and I headed out of town...no kids...great food...lots of shopping...more food!

...we even got to play in the snow!



During our shopping adventure we found the most AMAZING lighting for the new house...vintage no less...circa 1910...oh my gosh when I walked it the store I was completely overwhelmed with all the lighting hanging from the ceiling...(we have been having the hardest time finding anything we liked) ...but almost immediately my eye was drawn to this particular light and I was like...that's it! There's a good chance we are going to end up purchasing 4...3 in one size and 1 in another...ooohhh I LOVE them! We put them all on hold so no one would buy them...there are only 11 total and once they are gone - they are GONE!

On Sunday morning, we got up and it was snowing heavily and it was so beautiful...Stuart wasn't as thrilled with the snow as I was...we drove up North for breakfast and of course we did some more shopping...and then I just couldn't believe my eyes...right there was a...



now...when I was a little girl we would eat at Shakey's Pizza - Stuart couldn't even believe I was talking about eating again...I said we HAD to get a pizza :D so we went in and ordered a small...oh my gosh it was so good!



I also wanted to share that from now until December 26th, the entire store at http://www.jessicasprague.com/ is on sale! Go ahead and copy this picture & share the good news with all your friends!



This week the kids are home with me all week - NO SCHOOL for Conferences and then Thanksgiving...we are going to have a great time preparing for Thanksgiving...and getting ready for Christmas!

Hope everyone has a great week!