2011 catch up!

Decided that I need to keep this blog up to date considering I love going through it and reading all of the things I posted from the past. So we need to catch up on 2011!!!

Winter~
The winter months have always been a time for us to catch up on rest, movies, TV shows and the like. This year, the winter was pretty hectic. Devyn was working out at Total Performance to get ready for the upcoming football season so he had to be driven here there and everywhere. He was taking drivers training and had to get back and forth to that as well. Mark became the Assistant Cub Scout Master for Nate's pack, which kept us busy as well....but it was all a lot of fun!

Spring~
Devyn got his license this year, so we spent a lot of time driving around just to get his hours in. He didn't have much interest in getting his license until his friends started driving themselves to school, etc. All of the sudden we have to cram it all in and get it in a hurry. Done in true Devyn style...that's for sure!
We spent as much time up at the camper as we could in the Spring, knowing that the summer would be cut short due to football practices. Dave and Beth bought a camper this Spring and brought it up to their own lot on the Club. We spent time at both sites and really enjoyed our weekends there.

Summer~
Most of the summer is a blur, it just went by so quickly!! Football started in early August. It was Nate's first year in tackle football with the Chargers, we weren't really sure how that would go because he wasn't all that excited about practicing every night and wearing the equipment. After the first practice, he was excited to get back out there with his friends, Kevin and Hayden.

2 years!!

So, it looks like it's been 2 years since I last updated my blog. Wow. Time flies. I started a new full time job about 3 1/2 yrs ago and haven't had much time to do anything other than family and work stuff! I'm going to get this blog back on track though, it's a great way to share all of the things that inspire me. I hope you'll share here as well!
So who's having a superbowl party this weekend? Who's your team? What fun goodies are you making for the game? I've been told we are in lockdown on Sunday at our house... no one comes in and no one goes out. My boys like to watch the game.... no partying allowed here. It's serious stuff, these games. I guess I can relate, Vampire Diaries has me hooked the same way! :) 
In Scrapbooking....I'm feeling very inspired right now, especially since I got my Cricut Expressions machine just before Christmas. It's so awesome! Not to mention the SCAL software I got to go with it, which allows me to cut anything (well, almost anything) in svg and pdf format- very cool!
Here are some projects I've been working on. I'm doing a craft show in March, and so I've been creating these banners like crazy:

I've done them for babies, Mom, Winter, Spring, Dad, you name it...... I'm working on it. I hope they'll be a hit at the show. We'll see.
I'm also getting ready to work on our Disney scrapbook (went to DisneyWorld for 10 days in Dec 2010). Scrapbooking those 300+ pics should be fun.....and challenging! I'm spending more time trying to come up with the style for the book than I am actually creating. This will definitely take some time.

Anyway, if anyone is out there- let me know! I love to hear your comments!

Be mine?

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Here's a project I made to hang on a hook in the house.

So what are you doing today with your valentine(s)? Mark and I went to dinner and did a little shopping last night (dinner on Valentines Day is nearly impossible around here!). This weekend we are heading to the Camper Show and we're expecting family to visit. Good times!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Weekend up north....

Happy Monday!!!!!

This weekend we had a blast up north ice fishing- thought I would share a few pics........

Too much fun. Still can't wait for Spring though.......

Hey, I actually sat last weekend and made some Valentine projects that I'll post here this week. I had a blast just working and seeing what I could make. Stay tuned!

Have a GREAT week!!

Catching up.....

Well, today I got the itch to catch up on blogs and the like. What fun it was to see what everyone was up to (inspiring too!). I wish I had more time to create pretty things!!

Winter is really getting to me, although I admit that I need the down time on the weekends. Summer is so crazy, I need the winter to breathe!

Lately I have been reading- just finished the Sookie Stackhouse books (loved them!) and now I'm reading the Mayfair Witch cronicles by Anne Rice. Very good reads, check them out if you want something different!

I'm also glad that LOST is back on, and have been glad to catch up on Nip Tuck. I missed the last season (Nip Tuck), which I hear isn't a bad thing. Adults behaving badly, what could be more fun to watch??So crazy, but I guess that's what happens when you don't have kids and a full time job to answer to. This is why celebrities get into trouble, there's nothing to keep them from their urges!

Anyway......

The kids are doing great. Devyn is kicking butt in wrestling and Nate is reading everything in sight.

Work is going very well- I love what I do and the people I work with. There's nothing like the feeling of making a difference and knowing that good things are ahead.

Mark is still keeping busy which is a blessing. The auto industry is not so good, but we hope his company will stay afloat and make it through this tough time.

I'm not feeling so motivated to work out lately, but I know I have to do it anyway. So far I've lost 30 lbs and hope to get down another 10 by this fall. I need something different, something to keep it interesting, maybe this?

Come to Mama......



This is the Nordictrack AudioStrider™ 990 Elliptical and it can be mine for only 1,000.
Yeah, that's what my husband said too (no way!). We'll see though, I have my way of getting things....... (get yer mind out of the gutter!).

So, that's what I have going on. Nothing too interesting right now, unfortunately. I will be spending the rest of the winter trying to catch up with old friends before things get busy again.

Stay warm!!

A few of my favorite things....

Hi- Happy November!!

It's hard to believe that it's already here, but I love it! This time of year always reminds me to appreciate the things I have and the loved ones around me. I always get inspired to do projects this time of year as well. Probably because things slow down a bit and I actually have time to come up with ideas!

I wanted to share a few of my most recent favorite things because they make me happy. Maybe they can boost your spirits too!

1..- Leslie Sansone Walk at Home videos. These videos are the best..... and they really work!! Leslie is motivating and fun to workout with. Try them if you feel like you need to get up and get moving. I lost 25 lbs in 3 months using these videos!!

Start out doing the 1 mile video and work your way up to a 5 mile workout! You won't be dissapointed!!

Visit her website for more info: http://www.lesliesansone.com/walk/

2. Scrapbooking- of course!! I was asked to do a couple of classes for Lifetime Moments next weekend for their big crop. I was so excited to have this opportunity and it really inspired me to get back into it. These are the projects I made- email me if you are interested in attending:

3. Stephanie Meyer- Twilight Series

If you haven't read these- run, don't walk to the store and get all four of them. I'll bet yo finish them in one week. Yeah- I know they're thick, but they are WONDERFUL!!

So that is what I have been up to. Let me know what you have been up to!!

Later!

the end of summer '08

Where is 2008 going???

What a year. It's flying by.
I know I haven't blogged in awhile, but I am making a commitment to do it at least once a week now.

There is so much to catch up on, but here are a few highlights:

• work is going great. the adjustment has been huge, but I love working.
• diet and exercise are good- who knew?
• new camper- traded in the one we bought last year for a bigger model- loads of fun- put it in a permanent spot up north so we don't have to tow- double the fun!
• kids are back in school- Nate in K and Dev in 8th grade. wow.
• just getting back into scrapbooking and can't wait to start creating again.
• looking forward to fall- Michigan is the best!

It was a very busy summer, but we sure had fun. We did some traveling, spent a lot of time up north in the camper and visiting with family. I have to admit though, I am ready to nest for awhile. I miss home and TV shows and decorating and scrapbooking. I want to cook and clean and do all the things I bitch about all winter long. Yeah, that's how I am.

Here are a few pics from this summer:

I hope everyone who reads this is doing well, and I hope you will leave me a note so I know what's new with you!!
More to come........PROMISE!!:)

2008!

Happy New Year! I hope the new year finds you healthy and well. If you're here with me in Michigan, it's finding you knee deep in snow. We love it. What a fun way to bring in 2008!

Makes me sad to see another year go by. I don't want my boys to get another year older. I love where they are right now. I love that we are all healthy and happy and safe. I don't want anything to change. I pray that 2008 brings more of the same for us.

So do you have any resolutions for 2008? I have more than usual this year. I really hope to move my body more by walking as much as possible (at 33 with a desk job, I am feeling about 20 years older!). I also want to get things done around the house that I keep putting off (which means I will have to push hubby a little more, in the most loving way possible, of course!). I also want to stay within my spending budget. It never happens, and that is why I never get to where I want to be. I need to discipline myself more this year. It's sooo hard to do!

So I am scrapbooking this weekend with my sister and friends Linda and Kelly. What fun we're going to have! I am so excited to do some scrapbooking and to get creative. I so desperately needed the Holidays and the snow this weekend to take some pictures. Haven't seen how they turned out yet, but I will scrap them nonetheless. No more perfect picture requirements; nothing gets done with that kind of pressure!

The Holidays were fun, but exhausting. Christmas was a whirlwind of traveling, but we did have a blast at my b&snl's house on New Year's Eve. We played board games and just relaxed together. It was a great way to end the Holiday craziness and start off another year. Thanks Dave and Beth for being the hostesses with the mostesses, er, something like that!

Well, I will return next week with lots of new projects to show you from the weekend (at least I hope to have something done!). Have a great week!!

things to do....

I am so inspired to scrapbook and do some artsy projects around the house, but I have this "to do list" that keeps me from having fun. I've accomplished so much already this morning, but there is still so much to do. Maybe if I keep working today, I can play tomorrow?

Now that it's dark outside when I get home, I have a hard time accomplishing anything during the week. I get home, cook/eat dinner, and then I just want to relax. Most of the time I fall asleep before I want to. Before I know it, it's morning and I have to do it all over again. Sounds like fun eh?

It is nice to be home today. I love Saturdays. Nate has a friend over (Gaby from across the street) and they are running around here like two crazy nuts. Having fun, that's all that matters.

So I hope to get Nate out for pictures this weekend. I have some pages in mind, but need pictures to go with them. Unfortunately Devyn is not home. I have no pictures of him and I am starting to feel guilty. The problem is that he doesn't want his picture taken and so he looks like a bum in them. Every single one. Oh well, I should probably take them anyway. Stinker.

So that's about it for now. If I get a chance to make something fun, I will be sure to post it here tomorrow.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Don't fall over......

I'm gonna have to blog again- twice in two days!! I have to because Renee tagged me. Don't get used to it though, cuz you'll be disappointed (or not!)

Here is goes:
1. If you could have $100 worth of scrapbook paper or assorted embellishments, which would you choose?
I like both equally, but will have to choose embellishments. I like to overembellish, andI'm not into origami (sp?Apparently I wasn't into english class either!)

2. If you had to choose between using only stamps or rub-ons which would you choose?
I choose chipboard letters. (you never said I had to play by the rules).

3. If you knew how to do both awesome cards and layouts, but could only do one for a year which would you do?
If I was mediocre could I still do both?

4. Would you rather own a scrapbooking store or have your own scrapping room at home (can't have both, lol)
No store for me, I'll keep my room. People aren't walking out the door with my stuff!

5. And then last but not least, what is your current cardmaking or scrapping style?
Overembellished and simple, depends on my mood. Sometimes I feel like a nut, sometimes I don't!

So there you have it Renee. Two posts in two days!!:) One of these days I am going to come up with a REALLY good tag, and you're going to pay!

I would tag 5 other people, but I'm sure they don't even read my blog, so what's the point???

Hugs!