Last Meljen's Post Ever :(

Good morning everyone!!  Happy Tuesday! Today is my very last post at Meljen's Post ... EVER! I'm so sad about it too :(  I always love working with Meljen's images and I'll still continue to use them. But to think this is it! I have absolutely LOVED being on the Meljen's DT Team; I would have never left on my own accord; They would have had to boot me out! It was the best team! And Melissa is an amazing artist! I know she will do well in anything she does!

Alright... for my last post I wanted to continue to work on my little Christmas Song Album. This is my little album out of paper bags.. it's coming along. I only have one more page after this to complete it and the cover and back cover. Here it is:






For this one I have chose 'Mary Did You Know' as the song. I colored the image with my Copic Markers. This is Nativity Joseph and Mary Bears. I did a small amount of decoupage on the image. I've added some small red and green flowers and put black pearls as their center. On the 2nd page I layered two lighter green blooms on top of one another and made a center out of three small bells, green, red and gold. All of the white papers are inked with Sepia. On the 2nd page the song lyrics are printed. The papers I used are all scraps from my scrap boxes!  Still trying to use them as much as I can!

Copic Markers Used: 

• Tan Clothing: E40, E41, E42
• Blue Clothing: B0000, B000, B00, B01
• Joseph: N3, N5, N7, N9
• Mary: E23, E25, E27, E29
• Ears and Cheeks: R20, R22

Challenges:

• DSC #131: Layouts Only @ Digitally 'Sweet' Challenge (1/∞)
• Week #302: Flowers and Pearls @ Allsorts Challenge Blog (1/3)
• HIMCR #191: Super Scrap Saturday @ Hiding In My Craft Room (1/3)
• Challenge #115: Anything Goes w/Optional Caffeine @ 613 Avenue Create (3/3)
• PIO #60: Use 3 Of Something (3 small photo squares, 3 bells) @ Pile It On! (1/∞)
• Challenge #253: Anything Goes @ Craft Your Passion Challenge (2/3)
• Challenge #10: Must Have Green In Project @ Get Creative Challenges (3/3)
• Challenge #40: Anything Goes @ Scribble and Scrap Blog & Challenge (3/3)
• Anything Goes @ Digi Sketch Challenge (2/∞)
• March Challenge #30: Flowers @ Natalie and Amy's Challenge (2/3)
• Challenge #15: Anything Goes @ Not Just Cards Challenges (2/∞)
• Challenge #24: Anything Goes @ 2 Creative Chicks (2/∞)
•  March: Anything Goes @ Altered Eclectics (1/∞)
•  March: Anything Goes @ Country View Challenges (11/∞)
•  March: Patterned Papers @ Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge (6/∞)
•  March: Sketch @ Stick It Down (1/∞)
• March: Add Some Metal (bells) @ Crafty Calendar Challenge (1/3)
• Challenge #66: Teddy Bears @ Sparkles Monthly Challenges (1/3)
• Challenge #73: Anything Goes @ Creatalicious Challenge (3/∞)
• Week #11: Anything But A Square Card @ Digi Choosday (1/2)
• Challenge #77: Anything Goes w/Twist of Make It Square @ Fan-Tastic Tuesday Hip To Be Square (1/4)
• Challenge #143: A Touch of Metal (bells) @ Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog (1/∞)
• Happy Anything Goes @ Papertake Weekly Challenges (1/5)
• March 17-23: Anything Goes @ Through The Craft Room Door (1/2)

Happy New Year With Meljen's Designs!!

Good morning again everyone! And a very Happy New Year :)  I'm hoping to spend my day just crafting!  We will see if that works out how I plan LOL!! It doesn't normally!

For today, we are on Challenge #241 at Meljen's Designs! We are starting off with an easy Anything Goes Challenge to start back our challenges and to start the New Year :)









For this challenge I worked on another page of my little mini bag album with the Christmas Carols theme. This song is The Friendly Beasts and I thought it was fitting for the Nativity Donkey and Nativity Camel. You can find both of these at the Meljen's Shop individually or you can find in the Nativity Set. I really love this set :)

I colored the images with my Copic Markers and I did a very small amount of decoupage on them. All of the papers are scraps! Let's see if I can use scraps all of January! LOL  I cut a Cheery Lynn's swirl die a couple of times and inked the edges of the white paper used.

Copic Markers Used:

• Camel and Donkey Cheeks: R20, R22
• Camel Fur: E40, E41, E42, E43, E44, E49
• Star on Camel: Y11, Y15, Y19
• Donkey Fur: C00, C1, C3, C5, C7, C9
• Heart on Donkey: R24, R35, R46

Challenges:

• Challenge #134: Anything Christmas @ A Gem Of A Challenge
• Challenge #209: Anything Goes Christmas @ Allsorts
• HIMCR #180: Freestyle Christmas @ Hiding In My Craft Room
• Challenge #104: Anything Goes @ 613 Avenue Create
• Challenge #94: Anything Goes Christmas @ Addicted To Stamps Challenge
• Challenge #117: Anything Goes @ Glitter n Sparkle Challenge Blog
• PIO #49: Anything Goes Christmas / Holidays @ Pile It On!
• Challenge #244: Anything Goes @ Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog
• Christmas / Winter Holiday @ Melonheadz Friends
• Challenge #164: Anything Goes @ Word Art Wednesday
• Challenge #92: Anything Christmas But A Card @ Crafting For All Seasons
• Challenge #354: Anything Goes @ Cute Card Thursday
• Challenge #82: Lots of Cuteness on Anything But A Card @ The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog
• Challenge #15: A Christmas Carol @ Dream Factory
• January: Christmas Leftovers @ Our Creative Corner
• January: Anything Goes @ Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog
• January: Anything Goes @ Mema's Crafts
• January: Anything Goes @ Seemacrafts

Holidays at Meljen's Designs.

Good morning everyone! Happy Thursday! :) I hope you all are having a wonderful week! We are almost finished! Here we come weekend! I'm working at home today.. have a bunch of stuff I need to get done!

Today we are on Challenge #239 at Meljen's Designs and the theme is Holiday!







Here is my second double page in my little mini album.. as you can see.. big time work in progress :)  In the end it will have the binding in the middle and the front page and back! I hope it will be nice!  For the second layout I used We Three Kings. The image is Nativity Three Kitty Kings which you can find at the Meljen's Designs Shop. The image is colored with Copic Markers and it has a bit of decoupage. I added the red and black pearls and a bit of twine. The label is a Sizzix die. I used a bit of gold paper on this layout. All of the papers are scraps from last years Christmas papers!

Copic Markers Used: 

• Cat 1: E31, E33, E34; B24, B28, B39; R24, R35, R46
• Cat 2: W1, W3, W5, W7, W9; V22, V25, BV17, BV08; Y00, Y11, Y15, Y19
• Cat 3: Y15, Y19, YR23, YR24; YG03, YG63, YG67; R39, RV69, RV99, E50

Challenges:

• Challenge #115: Anything But A Card @ QKR Stampede.
• Left Overs / Scraps @ Catch The Bug Challenge Blog.
• Challenge #40: Anything Goes w/Twist of Something Beginning with S (scraps, silver, song) @ Completely Christmas.
• Challenge #264: Christmas Animals @ Totally Gorjuss.
• Use Five (5 black pearls, 5 red pearls) @ Anything But A Card Bi Weekly Challenges.
• Challenge #240: Anything Goes @ Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog.
• Challenge #35: Anything Goes @ Scrapbook Blessings Club.
• Challenge #170: Christmas @ Ooh La La Creations Challenges.
• X is for Xmas Music @ ABC Christmas Challenge.
• Challenge #92: Lots of Layers @ Addicted To Stamps Challenge.
• Challenge #145: Any Winter Holiday @ DL Dot Art.
• Challenge #33: All About Christmas @ Paper Creators Crafts.
• Challenge #27: Cute and Cuddly Christmas @ Natalie and Amy's Challenge.
• Challenge #14: Digi / Christmas @ CCC Digi Creations.
• December: Anything Goes with an Animal @ Animal Friends Challenge.
• December: Celebrate The Holidays or Cold Winter Days @ Mema's Crafts.
• December: Christmas @ Seemacrafts.
• December: Christmas @ The Craft Garden.
• December Challenge #29: Holiday Theme @ V's Sweet Ideas.
• December: Anything Goes (2/5) @ Sketches For All / Stacy H-W's Stash Challenge.
• Challenge #129: Photo Inspiration @ {PIN}spirational Challenges*
• Anything Goes @ Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge Blog.
• Challenge #129: Anything Goes @ Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog.
• Anything Goes @ Papertake Weekly Challenges.
• Holiday / Christmas @ Scrap Creations.
• December 2 - December 8: Anything Goes @ Through The Craft Room Door.
• Challenge #29: Christmas Carols @ Connie Can Crop.
• December: Anything Goes @ Crafting By Designs.
• Feeling Festive @ Divas By Designs.
• December: Christmas Anything Goes @ Fresh Brewed Designs.
• Christmas / Holidays @ Simon Says Stamp! Challenge Blog.
• DCC123: Anything But A Card @ The House That Stamps Built Designer choice Challenges.
• Challenge #161: Anything Goes @ Word Art Wednesday.
• Challenge #288: Christmas @ C.R.A.F.T. Challenge.

Meljen's Designs DT Day Inspiration December!.

Happy December everyone!! Only two Meljen's posts this month! I was lucky enough to grab one of the DT Days! And then my Thursday Challenge Post!  Today is my DT Inspiration!  Hope you all have a wonderful day!!







Okay.. let me explain.... LOL  This is my work in progress. I wanted to do a mini bag album with the Meljen's Nativity set. This is the first double page layout of this album. I decided to do some carols with it. On one side will be the words to a song and then the other page will be a photo layout. For this one the song is "Do You Hear What I Hear?". And the image is Nativity Shepherd's Sheep which you can of course find in the Meljen's Designs Shop!! Stay tuned for other pages as they come.. and when I finish it off I will send photos of the completed album and pages :) The image was colored with my Copic markers and a bit of decoupage done. Some of the papers were inked, others distressed. I used a border punch of stars on this page and used some of the punched out stars as embellishments as well. I also added some ribbon.The vines are Cheery Lynn die cuts and the banner is a Sizzix die cut. All of the papers are scraps from last years Christmas papers!

Copic Markers Used:

• Robe, Pants, head Covering: E41, E42; B00, B000
• Shepherd and Sheep: E40,0
• Hooves: N0, N3, N5
• Star: Y11, Y15, Y19
• Cheeks: R20, R22
• Heart: R24, R35, R46

Challenges:

• Challenge #222: Die Cuts @ 4 Crafty Chicks.
• Favourite Xmas Style and Why? @ As You Like It Challenge.
• To Me, I love doing Traditional Christmas creations... bringing out the true meaning of Christmas; keeping Christ in Christmas. That is why I decided to do this little mini album.
• Challenge #107: Animals At Christmas + Ribbon @ Crafty Ribbons Challenge.
• Inspired By A Song @ Moving Along With The Times.
• Challenge #225: Anything Goes @ Stampavie and More.
• Challenge #1: Anything Goes @ A Crafty Mess.
• Challenge #115: Anything But A Card @ QKR Stampede.
• Dies and Punches @ Winter Wonderland Challenge Blog.
• Left Overs / Scraps @ Catch The Bug Challenge Blog.
• Challenge #40: Anything Goes w/Twist of Something Beginning with S (sheep, star, scraps, shepherd) @ Completely Christmas.
• Anything Goes @ The Outlawz Paper Ala Mode.
• Challenge #264: Christmas Animal @ Totally Gorjuss.
• Challenge #161: Tis The Season @ Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge Blog.
• Challenge #35: Anything Goes @ Scrapbook Blessings Club.
• Use Die Cuts / Punches @ Digi Sketch Challenge.
• Challenge #170: Christmas @ Ooh La La Creations Challenges.
• X is for Xmas Music @ ABC Christmas Challenge.
• Challenge #92: Lots of Layers @ Addicted To Stamps Challenge.
• Challenge #145: Any Winter Holiday @ DL Dot Art.
• Challenge #33: All About Christmas @ Paper Creators Crafts.
• Challenge #27: Cute and Cuddly Christmas @ Natalie and Amy's Challenge.
• Challenge #14: Digi / Christmas @ CCC Digi Creations.
• December: Anything Goes with an Animal @ Animal Friends Challenge.
• Challenge #53: Any Digi Goes @ Doodle Pantry LLC Challenge Blog.
• December: Celebrate The Holidays or Cold Winter Days @ Mema's Crafts.
• December: Christmas @ Seemacrafts.
• December: Christmas @ The Craft Garden.
• Anything Goes @ Sketches For All / Stacy H-W's Stash Challenge.
• Challenge #129: Photo Inspiration @ {PIN}spirational Challenges.
• Challenge #129: Anything Goes @ Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog.
• Anything Goes @ Papertake Weekly Challenges.
• Challenge #29: Christmas Carols @ Connie Can Crop*

 

Can You Believe...

Can you believe the weather? the fires? the flooding? Mother Nature in all her fury. I know here in Georgia we didn't have much of a winter. And I love my winters. I love the cold brisk air. I love sitting by a fireplace and covering up in blankets. I'm not a huge fan of summer and the heat. It hasn't been this hot in quite a few years though. I can't believe its going to get up in the triple digits this week! 104 degrees.. are you kidding me!!!???!!! I think I might be able to cook up an egg on the road.

And then you head a little south of us and you have the terrible flooding in Florida.So many homes under water, card damaged beyond repair. That storm went over Florida and just stalled out. I hope that everyone is safe. I hate to hear of so much damage and loss. It is so devastating for those involved. And to see people rowing down the street in their boats, horses walking shoulder high in water on the streets; it is just terrible.

You head west and you have the horrific fires going on. I thought I heard somewhere that these fires were being started by someone. Why would you do that? Such devastation. People losing everything as they are rushed out to safety with not much time at all to gather anything from their homes. And their homes going up in flames. My heart breaks for all of the people that are suffering such losses right now. And I think about the people that started these fires and wonder what drives them to do such a terrible thing.

I will keep everyone in my prayers

2006... I can't believe how little my kids were. they were all holding sparklers. I can't believe how fast they grow up.. 6 years ago!!! I can't even believe it.

Immigration

On September 11th we received our initial approval from the immigration center in Vermont. It took about six months to get through there. From there, the paperwork had to move on to the State Department I believe it is. There they issue a National Visa Center number. We have been waiting a couple of weeks for that and we FINALLY have it!!! I couldn't be more excited... there is truly hope that Kevin will be home for the holidays. I was almost resigned to the fact that we would be spending Christmas without him. Last night, the attorney sent an email with the number attached and told us to get Kevin's medical exam done right away. When we spoke to the medical facility that would be doing his exam, there are only a handful of approved physicians, they said it would be about a ten day wait for an appointment. I called last night to set up the appointment for him and they set it up for this Thursday!!! .. Two more days from now!! I couldn't be more excited! We are on our way now :)

Last night, Michael was in his room tossing something and most of the time missing it with a nice big CRASH! I had been on him for about 20 minutes to STOP!! And the boy just ignores what I say!! And then.. low and behold there is a very LOUD knock on the door. I knew right away what that meant... the police were at my door. Have you ever had them knock at your door.. oh my gosh!! They knock REALLY loud!! LOL So, I answered the door and sure enough it was a female officer. I put T-Bone in his crate and had her come in. She said that the neighbors downstairs had called complaining about the noise. I knew why she was there and took her back to Michael's room and let her talk to him directly. I figured that would have a much better effect on him. He knew he was in trouble.. and he answered her questions and he put away the item he was tossing and told her he would stop. We have had a lot of trouble with the neighbors downstairs. They are always complaining about noise and the majority of the time we are not loud. I know that the dog gets loud sometimes, but I take his toy and have him settle down. I do my best to keep things at a decent level of noise. The man downstairs is not very nice, kind of an angry guy. He won't make eye contact, he curses out on the back patio, he smokes with no regard to where his smoke is going.. which is right upstairs and into my window... Yuck!! Oh well.. he is who he is and he will have to answer for his own one day. I will continue to be respectful to them. I had just spoken to the wife last week letting her know I was doing the best I could. The officer came in very gruff, but I stayed calm and respectful and she in turn came down to a more approachable level. She knew that we had had trouble with the neighbors before. She left with a just do your best and was on her way. The kids were quiet after that! Go figure!! I really don't know what I'm going to do with Michael. I may end up having to send him to his father if he doesn't start listening to me. I hate really hate the thought of that, but I'm at a loss as to what to do.

Also last night..  my dryer died! Well.. I believe it must have died this weekend LOL I can't get the clothes all the way dry! I will have to see what I have once I get paid on Thursday... guess I'll be breaking down and buying a dryer! It IS a really old dryer and it was only a matter of time, but it is always something, isn't it!!?? 

Even with all of that nonsense, the noise, the dryer and my kid not listening to me!! .. that is another story on its own.... I am so happy and it was a good night.

Yesterday was my first day with the girl that will be my partner in crime at work :)  It was a good day and she is really nice. I think we will get along well. The day seemed to go well. My desk sure piled up with work though! Maybe I will go through it today and see if I can pass some of it off to her. That is a good idea!

I hope you all have a wonderful day/evening!!

Little Bailey sitting on on a bronze giraffe at the zoo LOL She's was so cute!! I can't say that about her now.. she's too big.. now she is just beautiful :) Hard to believe how quickly they grow up!!

40 Days of Prayer Day 2 and 3

I meant to post the day 2 prayer yesterday, but got so busy that I never got around to it. So I will post it today.

Kevin and I are once again waiting LOL It seems that is what Immigration is all about... waiting! We got our approval, but then that department has to send it to a different department who issues us a number. That is what we are waiting on. The attorney says that the last number took three weeks. So again... we wait. At least we are moving forward! Every day is a day closer!

Whatever was making me not feel well last week has gone. I feel back to my normal self... So I have no idea what it was.. probably just all in my head LOL  Who knows! I'm just glad I'm feeling better!! :)

40 Days of Prayer Day 2:
Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Day Two Prayer Focus
Cry out for deep brokenness, Godly fear and humble repentance to sweep God’s people. (Psalm 51:17; Proverbs 28:13; John 14:15; 2 Corinthians 7:1, 10; Ephesians 5:26-27; Hebrews 12:14)

Pray for believers to fully humble themselves, placing their primary trust in God not in political parties, economics or governments. (2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 33:12-22)

40 Days of Prayer Day 3:
Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Day Three Prayer Focus
Pray for an explosion of first love passion for Christ and a deep burden for lost humanity. (Matthew 5:6, 44, 22:37-39; Philippians 2:13; 1 John 4:7-11,20-21; Revelation 2:1-4, 3:15)

Pray for believers to be filled with great conviction and reverential fear of God. Pray that none would commit the blatant idolatry of placing economics or politics above God and biblical truths. (Exodus 20:3-5; Acts 5:29)




Thankful:
09/25/2012

1. I am thankful that Michael didn't try to hide or lie about missing the school bus today.
2. I am thankful that I have Kevin to talk to about things, like Michael missing the bus once a week since school started. He gives suggestions and discusses it with me. It is wonderful to have someone you can talk to about anything and everything.
3. I am thankful for the beautiful days we have had. The sun has been bright, the humidity low and the evenings have been cool.  It has been glorious.
4. I am thankful for the internet and being able to blog, share creations and meet new friends.
5. I am thankful for my family.

Michael... young little man Michael! Playing outside... being all boy! Playing outside!! Did I say .. Playing outside!! LOL Man... I would love to get him outside again!! I'm thinking it is time to get a counselor involved. I have to do something or he is going to have a really hard time in life. It is not normal for a 13 year old kid to be inside all of the time... never wanting to socialize with anything. I am at a loss ... time to bring in some help I think.. and so does Kevin.

There is a

500 Follower GIVEAWAY!!!! 

Crafting Desert Diva's is having a $100 Joanns Giftcard giveway! You should go check it out :) I have been following them for some time... very talented!! :)  I love seeing their new creations!

 

Remember ...

This is a day to remember those lost in the attacks against America. This is a day to pray for the families that lost their family members and friends. A day to remember and pray for those service men and women that lost their lives trying to save others and those that serve today to keep our country safe and free. Remember those civil servants, your police, firemen, first responders; they risk their lives every day for us. Remember the priest who lost his life trying to help those in need and to pray with them. Think of those today, those priests, those pastors that strive for us to have a healthy relationship with God and for us to remember how important Jesus Christ is to us and for us not to forget that.

September 11th, 2001 - It affected the whole of the United States.. it affected the whole of the world. Kevin and I have spoken about this fateful day. Even he was frozen to the television watching in disbelief at what had just happened; not moving the entire day. I remember where I was and what I was doing as I know many of you can remember as well. I was at home with Bailey; she had just been born July 24th and I was home on maternity leave with her. The television was on the morning news and they were talking about a plane that had crashed into one of the towers. I sat there and watched it thinking that it was just a small plane that had accidentally hit the tower. And then you watched on live television as the second plane hit the other tower. I knew right away that this was no accident; as did everyone else watching. And then the plane into the Pentagon and the plane in the field that went down with our brothers and sisters fighting for their lives and fighting to save others so that this plane wouldn't cause any additional losses. I pray today for all those affected.

My sister lived in New York at the time and she worked downtown. We couldn't reach her, none of the phone lines would work, the cell phones wouldn't go through. It was terrible not to be able to reach her after the towers went down. What a devastating loss for the world, for our nation. Such a senseless act of violence. I will never understand the hatred that people have for our nation and for the American people. I will never understand how people can twist a religious belief into such hatred. Jesus Christ paid for our sins by giving his own life. There is nothing but a true and unconditional love there. God is love, forgiveness. Not hatred...

Remember... remember those lost, those affected, those that serve. Never forget!

Today I'm Thankful For...

Today I thought of starting a notebook. I thought of starting a notebook that each day I would write at least five things I'm thankful for. My goal is to really put some thought into it and how my day went and write these down. I need to focus on the positive, which I do really well most of the time. I do some times fail at this though and this will be a good way to keep it at the forefront. I will keep the journal next to my bed and fill it out each night.

Today I am thankful for finding the most amazingly talented and inspiring people on blogs. Have you seen Madalina at Quilltique Paradise?? If you haven't... you should!! She amazes me with the art she creates using just paper. She posted her very first project today.. Just go take a look.. she is really amazing. I enjoyed looking at some of her amazing art today :) She is inspiring!

I am thankful to all of the wonderful people out there that listen and help to put things in perspective for you. Friends you have never met in person, but always stop by to encourage and support you. They stop by your blog to just let you know you have created something beautiful or to lift you up when you are down in the dumps. You all are amazing!! And I appreciate every one of you.

I am thankful for all the wonderful people out there that aren't ashamed to shout it out to the world that they love Jesus Christ and aren't ashamed to say it! I wish it happened more and I appreciate all of you that shout it out to the world.. or create something in his honor. It is so beautiful!!

I am thankful for my adorable, cuddly, loveable cat Whiteout. I love that he wants to be close and lay on your chest. I love that he comes up and rubs his face across yours. I love that he is an affectionate cat and he makes me smile.. even when he talks back after getting in trouble for being on the counter LOL!

I am thankful for Bailey being so excited about playing the Viola. So excited that she has already broken a string!! LOL But the important thing is that she excited to learn, excited to play and I love seeing her that excited about something in the arts! I told her that if she keeps it up she will playing up there with the rest of the church group that plays :)  They have all kinds of instruments up there! I would love to see her up there playing one day.

I am thankful for the time I get to spend with Kevin on Skype. It has been so hard being so far apart for so long. And even though we aren't there yet, I know that we are getting closer. I know that there are people at church praying for us to be reunited.. I know we are in your thoughts and prayers as well and I am thankful to all of you for that. I hope he comes home soon, but right now I'm glad I get to see him and talk to him each day.

Here is all three of my kids.. Taylor, Michael and Bailey.. many many years ago at a school 50's themed dance. The journaling is in the envelope. The squared embossed and little jewels around them. The paper was old Club Scrap paper. Can't believe how small my kids are.. Bailey is so LITTLE!!! And Michael.. Dancing?? LOL What the heck! There is no way he would do that now LOL

Hope you all have a great rest of your day / night! Happy crafting!!

What the Heck Just Happened?

Today was a pretty good day. I got off to work early and got some things done today. I had to leave early to take Michael back to the orthodontist to pick up his retainers. He has to wear his retainers all the time for the next three months. Then after that, he will only have to wear them at night hopefully. Bailey and I were joking around with him for a little bit since it is hard for him to talk. It was cute though and he was being a good sport with the picking. That is unusual for him.

I took the kids to the Back To School Bash that the church was having. I don't think either of them wanted to go, but we went any way. I am trying to get them more involved in church and trying to get them to meet some new people. We went in and within 10 minutes Bailey found someone that she knew and she was off. Michael never left my side. The middle school pastor came up to talk to him and he wouldn't smile or talk or anything. He stayed on his phone for a lot of the time.. I finally made him put it up. All he was doing was pacing back and forth in front of me on his phone and it was driving me crazy. We stayed for about an hour and a half. Bailey had a really fun time and wasn't ready to leave. I told her would definitely do more of this, but I needed to get home and get some sleep for work in the morning. Michael was just glad to get out of there I think. This is my strange boy... it is 90 degrees outside and he is wearing a jacket!! So he has pockets for his phone he says. I just don't know what else to do to try to break him out of that shell of his and get him to be more open for people.

Well.. on the way home I knew I needed to call my mother. I had not spoken to her since Saturday...

 A little history on us... we were pretty close for a lot of my life. Then I got married to David and my mother never really liked him. She was very apparent about it even though she doesn't think she was. She would roll her eyes, make comments about it, etc. It was a really hard thing for me to deal with for the 13 years I was married to the man and it really put a strain on my mother and my relationship. Not only that, but she would yell at my kids or discipline them for things that I didn't feel were wrong. I don't know.. it was an odd time and it really put a strain on our relationship. We were really strained for quite a few years. We weren't doing things together like we had. We weren't visiting like we always did. Nothing was the same. Towards the end of my marriage or maybe even once it was over, I can't remember, I wrote her a letter that was several pages and just put everything that I was feeling out there. We talked about it and over time we got better. I don't think we ever got back to the way we were, but we were definitely better. She is a bit needy. She needs you to call her all the time and she would really like it if we came over more often. A couple of things about that... She doesn't call you... she expects you to call her. And my mother is a smoker and I really don't like being in her house and I don't like my kids being in her house and with smoke in our faces. Now...

I was on the way home from church and I called my mother. We were having a nice conversation... how are you feeling? Did my sister go over there for her on Sunday? She had a broken wrist from her trip to France and she had an appointment on Monday. I failed to call her on Monday to find out how everything went, even though on Saturday I asked her to call me after her appointment. That is where everything turned on me. I was broadsided and I had no idea what the heck just happened!!!??? She started saying how disappointed she was in my sister and I because neither one of called her on Monday to find out how her appointment went. She was disappointed that I didn't go over there more. I was selfish.. It didn't matter how tired she was... she would have been here for me in a heart beat. And it went on and on.. by the time I got home I was in tears ... and the kids were probably wondering what the heck just happened too!

I don't normally stand my ground with my mother or stand up for myself, but I tried. I was there for her.. not every night like she probably wanted, but when she called and needed us we were there. She wanted me to come over all the time I guess. I tried to explain that it wasn't about me being tired.. it was about me having responsibilities. I am a single mother .. Kevin is in Australia for the time being and its just me. It's me to get them up in the morning. They don't get home until 5 pm each night.. 4:50 pm they are walking in the door from the bus. I get them dinner... they work on homework and make sure that gets done... showers, packing backpacks.. and its time for bed. She says .. yes.. its all about me. I said.. No .. it isn't all about me, but it is all about my kids!

Ughhh ... she made me feel terrible. She makes me question myself. I've tried so hard to have her be a part of things. I invited her to drive up to Dahlonega with me on Saturday to see Taylor. I've asked her to go to church with me every week. Once her wrist was broken that was her excuse not to go to church, so she hasn't been going with us since. I've really tried... And now.. I have to really try not to let it affect our relationship. I have to pray hard about it.. because it makes me want to back way off. I know I can't do that. I also know that she was drinking tonight.. I could tell by her slurring words. Such a shocker to end my night. And then... I tried to call my sister, but she didn't pick up. So, after I told my mother that I had to go, she called my sister to light into her. LOL Wow.. What a night.

Thanks for listening.. I'm off to bed now. Kevin is at the movies.. enjoying The Expendables 2 I believe. I hope he is enjoying the movie.

Here is my sister, my mother and I .. years ago, 2004, at Fogo De Chao.. a really awesome restaurant. Man.. I was young LOL Here is to a better day tomorrow. I hope you all have a wonderful evening.

Schools Back In...

Yes.. school started back on Monday... Work is killing me LOL and I haven't had much scrapping time. I get home and I'm exhausted.

Both kids are in middle school this year.. they get on the bus at 8:45 am and they don't get home until about 4:50 pm. I stayed home on Monday to see that they were off to school okay and didn't miss the bus. Everything seemed to go well. When they came in the door that evening you would have thought they hadn't eaten for days!! They were both at the refrigerator before the backpack was even off their backs LOL!! I'm really hoping I can keep Michael on track this year. I think Bailey will do alright. Here is hoping for a good year and passing grades!

At work they can't seem to keep anyone in the position opposite of mine. I'm beginning to get a complex!! I don't think I'm really hard to work with.. I keep to myself.. I'm a bit quiet.. not a huge social lite LOL I promise I shower and I don't stink!! I don't know what is going on!! So, it is just me and right now I'm supporting seven people!! And it is way too much LOL I'm working 12.5 hour days and when I get home I'm exhausted. Now.. It would help if I went to bed a bit earlier.. I need the kids to follow my directions and go to bed when I tell them to. Oh.. and do the chores that I ask them to do .. when I ask them to do it!!

Friday I have taken the day off to take Taylor to North Georgia State College and University!! She will be starting her freshman year of college. I pray for her every day that she will be safe and successful. I really hope she will meet some new.. good friends. I hope that she will focus on what she needs to and keep her priorities straight. We will see how it goes. I'm a little disappointed in the way she is... I think it is her age though. She is 18.. moved out this past May because she didn't want to follow the rules. Well... she really expects a lot. And when I give her something she needs or wants, I don't really get a thank you. She doesn't show much gratitude. I don't get it. I really hope it is her age and that she will look back one day and appreciate what we have done for her.

My crafting has been neglected the past couple of days.. but I have been working on items for my DT commitments.. which can't be posted yet LOL It feels good to be ahead though. I'm not ahead in one of them and I need to get to work. I have one image ready to go and I'm going to work on it in the morning! LOL I know I can I know I can I know I can!

Wow.. Look at baby Michael... Grade 1!!! I can't believe it! LOL Poor boy.. he hated school then too.

And here they are Monday... Bailey.. 6th grader.. Could she be more tomboy? LOL  Ughhhhh...

And that little Michael up there!!!  Well.. this is Michael now.. My 8th grader! And hating me taking pictures LOL!

And he gets his braces off soon! I thought it was this week LOL but I can't remember what day! I really need to call tomorrow!

Unproductive Today!

It has just been one of those days where I had all intentions of getting all kinds of things done and I don't feel like I got anything done!  I guess we all have days like that.. well most of us LOL!

This morning I got up and spent my morning with Kevin. We have been watching the Olympics together each morning. As best we can LOL He was watching the Marathon this morning and I was trying to watch tennis. I just don't get tennis.. I don't get the scoring or anything.. it is all confusing. So, Kevin was trying to explain it to me the best he could without being here watching it with me. I think I do understand it a little better. Anyway.. he was telling me what was happening in the marathon and I was asking him questions about the tennis match LOL

Then, it was time to get ready for church. I woke the kids.. who had a hard time rolling out of bed this morning. They are taking advantage of the fact that I can't stay awake late. They are staying up way too late! I'm going to have to turn the wireless off so they can't get online and set my alarm so that I can wake up and make sure they are going to bed. They did finally get moving and dressed and off to church we went. It was a good sermon.. all about being one as a community. He has a way about him.. he explains what he is talking about, he is explains the history and then he takes the lesson and explains it in a way that makes it current.. something of today and it all just falls into place. I really enjoy listing and learning from him. There was a lady behind us and as we were leaving she says that she can tell I really love my kids and that its nice that I am always hugging them or holding their hand LOL I'm such a touchy feely person... but hey.. that's me!

We came home and I had good intentions to make a card today. I went through the blogger posts.. I cleared off my desk a bit and didn't get anything done. The phone rang about noon and it was my mother. We headed over to her place and she had me ride with her to the gas station. She was afraid that she wouldn't be able to pump the gas with her broken wrist. Poor thing.. She figured out it wasn't that hard with her left hand to pump gas. Then it was back to her place to mow the grass. This was Michael's first time ever mowing grass.. I was so excited! He needs the practice LOL He did great.. although my mother is impatient and was telling him to move it LOL I forgot to bring the camera, so I had to take photos with my phone. Bailey and I cut up cucumbers, onions, tomatoes and celery for her salad she wanted to make and then Bailey did the few dishes she had there. My mother again showed her impatience by pushing Bailey along .. as she wasn't fast enough doing those dishes!! My mother said she could have done them faster with her one hand LOL Gotta love her ;)

Home again!! I'm going to work on a card now!!  Nope.. wrong.. more looking at blogs... reading emails.. cleaning up the desk a bit more LOL I'm not sure what my issue was.. tired I think! I finally decided on some scrap papers and stamp... I have a lot of the card done and I'll finish it up in the morning. I did get some dishes done.. Ummm.. I think I put a few things away in the kitchen.. but WOW! Overall, I was really lazy and unproductive today LOL I think I should have taken a nap!

Have you seen the previews for the new show that will be starting soon... Revolution? It really interests me.. I think I will have to watch it and see how it is. It is something different... peaks my interest for sure. Anything that is peaking your interest?

Alright.. I'm off for the night.. I really need to get to bed and get some rest! Darn Olympics!! They will keep me up again LOL It's all their fault ;)

==============
For several years my kids played soccer. They really seemed to enjoy it.. especially the girls. Michael only liked it when I was the coach. Oh... he could drive you mad that kid LOL He would pout when someone got the ball from him or he didn't do something correctly. He would just stop. He is an extra sensitive kid.. even today LOL

This was one of Taylor's teams... she had a lot of fun!

Why Am I The Way I Am

A couple of things happened today that make me take a look at myself. First, I had a neighbor that lived downstairs.. two levels. They moved out a couple of weekends ago and she had two garages that she rented. She managed to get one of them emptied, but the other one she couldn't get done. So, she asked me if I would mind putting the garage in my name and she would keep it for a couple of months and then get it emptied. Now, they really don't know me all that well, but apparently enough to know that I have a hard time saying no. So, she handed over $95 and I told her I would do it. Why can I not say no? I really hate that quality in me. It really opens that people taking advantage of you situation. I can say no if I have to, but I don't do it nearly enough. I get in trouble for that a lot at work LOL Taking on too much. Anyway.. back to the story... Today I went down to the office and told her that I needed to switch that garage into my name. And the manager says to me.. you know you don't have to do that. I know I know.. but I have a hard time saying no. So I ask... When can I cancel it? She proceeds to tell me that I have to keep it until my lease runs out. That is February of next year!! I looked at her and said.. Oh yes.. Ummm.. I can't do that. I head home and I tried to call the lady. Her phone went straight to voice mail. I called her son and told him the situation and told him to have his mother call me. She hasn't called me yet.

Also this morning my oldest daughter calls me crying. She says tuition is due and she still owes a lot of money. I'm trying to be strong and hold my ground with her, but when she calls all crying and not sure what to do I feel bad. But I really need to stay strong... she did choose to move out and become an adult. She is the one that decided she didn't want to follow the rules at home. I still feel bad when she is all weepy... So, I told her to go to my bank and see what they could do. It is a credit union... but they don't do student loans. So, I called Sallie Mae and had the three of us on the phone. She gave all of her information, but failed to get approved. So, I gave in and put my name on it. I'm not sure if it is approved yet. She had to get a copy of her drivers license and social security card over to them. On the one hand, I want to help her! She is my daughter and she needs help. On the other hand, she chose to move out and be an adult so she needs to figure things out like an adult would... right?

Well.. I really need to talk to Kevin about all of this. I just hate to add any extra stress on him. I know he is stressed about all of this immigration stuff and some papers that we need and can't seem to get what they want. It's all frustrating stuff, but we will figure it out. I'm a glass half full kind of girl LOL Most of the time.. I try to look at the good.. Kevin is more of a glass half empty kind of a guy... And I love him for it.

Enough of that.. I'm off to bed... tomorrow morning we do the volunteer with the church. We are on the backpack station! So we will be hooking up some kids with some backpacks for school! I will be getting the kids up at around 5 am. It will be a really early start for them! Goodnight!

My sister with the kids years ago! Taylor looks like she is about 12 yrs old or so. She is 18 now. My sister has long hair here... Her hair is short now :)

Away from Home

Today I packed up the dog and the kids, picked up my mother and headed to Atlanta to my sister's house. It is only about 30 minutes down the road LOL... so it isn't that we have gone really far, BUT! We are out of the apartment! No worrying about the neighbors being loud upstairs and waiting for them to crash through the ceiling at any moment! I'm really waiting for it.. I just hope they aren't over my desk and my supplies when they come crashing through! Oh!! And no worries about the rude people downstairs with their mean stares and their complaining and banging on the ceiling.. and this banging on the ceiling is always when I'm at my desk.. sitting! and the kids are always sitting some where. I think the husband is bi-polar.. I'm sure of it LOL

So.. back to my original point.. We got down here and unloaded all of our stuff. Then I took my sister and mother to airport!! They are gone until next Tuesday to France! How fun for them taking a trip to France. I gave my mother my point and shoot camera and an 8G memory card. She should be able to take a lot of photos. I'm excited to see them.. I hope she remembers to take a lot of them! They are going to be there to see the end of the Tour de France as well. That will be exciting for them.. especially for my sister.

The kids and I are here at my sisters hanging out. We have the pool to jump into every night. It is going to be good to be away. The only problem is that I'm here with very limited supplies. I don't like being away from my supplies! I will probably go home on Friday and spend some time working on a card or two. Other than that we will just spend time in this beautiful house. Ooooo!! yes!! I need to take lots of pictures of this beautiful house and scrap them! What a good idea!

 This is a layout of Bailey.. and how lovely she looks with her huge YooHoo mess LOL The papers are from Club Scrap.. so are the beads and the words. The words were put on chipboard. I added the blue ribbon.. some stamping. This is one of my old layouts. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day!

All Confused Today...

I'm all confused today! It must be the heat! I could have sworn it was Saturday today. Where did the weekend go? I missed church this morning (shaking my head in shame). I have no idea what happened. Maybe it was being out in the sun all day yesterday.. Ummm.. that should have clued me in.. I was in the sun ALL day yesterday at my sisters. What other day would that have been? LOL Oh well.. really threw my day off today.

We had a really good day at my sisters. We stayed in the pool most of the day.. She grilled steak and chicken which was fantastic. I was exhausted when I got home though. I hopped in the shower and hit the bed and I don't remember anything else. She was handing out gifts yesterday too! She gave my son an IPod nano, Bailey got an IPod Touch, and she gave me an HP Tablet. Wow! Generous gifts!


Today is suppose to be another really hot day. I'll be sticking to home for the most part. I told the kids I would take them to the used CD store across the street and let them pick something out. So, we will do that and then come right back home. I'm going to try to work on some challenges today!

I hope you all have a great rest of your weekend!!

This is my ragdoll, Highlight. She plays fetch with my hairbands. Too cute! You fling it across the room, she chases it, picks it up and brings it back.

Last Page

This morning I have finished the last page that is going in the album for Kevin and I. Now I just need to talk to the attorney and find out what other paperwork needs to be sent over to Kevin, make sure I have everything and then get it in the mail to him. Mail takes at least two weeks to get to Australia and that doesn't matter how you send it. I don't think we've ever had anything going either way get to its destination before two weeks.

The attorney contacted us a couple of days ago to get additional addresses for Kevin back all the way to when he was 16 years old. That is not an easy task remembering every where you have lived back since you were 16 years old! Kevin got it all together though and I sent it over to the attorney. Now that the attorney has gotten back in touch with us it has made me anxious. I know it is getting closer, yet it is still so out of reach.

This morning I'm helping Bailey finish these cookie pops at Laura Beth's place. I had her bake the cookies last night, so this morning we will melt the chocolate and finish them up. We are going to take them to my sister's today. Bailey is enjoying making them too! Pictures.. I need to get some pictures! Once we finish those up we are going to head to my sisters to hang out for the day. That way we can jump in the pool when we get hot. It should be a good day.

I hope you all have a wonderful day.. stay cool!

I used the newest sketch from Got Sketch? Cardstock is bazzill and the patterned papers are all Doodlebug. 

Cricuts...

After blogging for about a month or so I've really noticed that a lot of people swear by the Cricut. Is that pretty accurate?

What are your favorite cartridges? Do you use it a lot? Or do you own other die cut systems? There really seems to be a Cricut following, so I was just curious.

It was REALLY hot today in Georgia! Not as hot as other placed, but still a whopping 105 degrees!! We just don't get that hot in the summer here. I don't want to go outside, I know that. Tomorrow it is suppose to be just as hot. We are going to head to my sisters tomorrow and hang out at the pool all day. At least getting in the pool with make the heat bearable. We will spend the day out there and I think that my oldest may come as well! It will be good to see her!

I hope everyone is enjoying their day and keeping cool!! Or warm if its winter where you are :)

Little Bailey.. I made the bottle caps and the stencil B. Random papers. Isn't she adorable? hehehe

Blog About Where You Live

I'm issuing a challenge to all of you. I love learning about different places. Blog about where you live, or just reply. Tell us a little about the place you live and why you are there, why you love it or hate it. I also love getting to know people. And learning about where you live is a good start. You don't have to be specific.

I live in Georgia, USA. I was born in Massachusetts, but I moved to Georgia when I was 5 years old. I don't even remember anything about Massachusetts. I consider myself a Georgia girl. This is where I was raised and all I know. We have always lived in the metro Atlanta area. It is about a 20 to 30 minute drive into Atlanta on a good day. Traffic is just horrendous here. We live pretty close to one of the lakes in Georgia. Lake Allatoona. It's a pretty big lake and there are beaches on many different parts of it, places to rent boats too. We are a good distance from the ocean. With Florida to the south of us you have a good 8 hour drive to the beach there. Savannah I believe is pretty close to a 6 hour drive. The South Carolina coast is the closest I believe at around 4 hours.  We have a beautiful mountain setting to the north of us only about a two hour drive. It can be so beautiful here. It is nice to drive around and see trees everywhere; I love all the green space.

I love the winters in Georgia, but I hate the summers. The summer can get so hot and humid. The winters can get really cold. I can't take off enough clothes to get cool in the summer, but I can bundle up in clothes and blankets and sit in front of the fireplace to get warm in the winter. It wouldn't be so bad here if the humidity wasn't so high. It can take your breath away when you step outside. We can also get some bad storms. Georgia has had its fair share of tornadoes going through it. That is really scary.

I have lived in Georgia almost all of my life. My kids are in the same school district I was in growing up. They are going to the same middle school that I went to; although my kids are really good compared to what I was in middle school. My high school is right down the road too.

I like it here where we are now. It is a nice area that is pretty safe. I would like to go a bit more north once Kevin gets home. We will look for a nice little house with a yard. Hopefully we will find what we are looking for. I believe we want to look in Canton, Georgia. The church that I go to has another campus in Canton too. I'm really happy about that.

It is really funny to listen to Kevin talk about America. He was sure that everyone had a gun and there was crime everywhere. I can't say there isn't crime every where, but it isn't like what he was thinking. Although when you watch the news it makes you wonder. It just seems like everywhere is getting so violent now. It is kind of scary.

Now I need to go around and take some pictures of the area and scrap a page. What a great idea :)

Here is my layout today.. This is at the airport with Kevin when we had to send him home. It was so hard to say goodbye.

I used the Lets Get Sketch! Challenge #17 for this layout. I used K I Memories Wild Thing papers. The roses are from a wooden stamp that I have. I colored them using Copic R20, R22, R27 for the buds and then YG03 and G05 for the leaves. I added some stickles ice to them. The bling is from Want2Scrap. and the flowers from Prima.

One more layout for this album to be complete and ready to send to Kevin to take to the Consulate. I can't believe its almost finished!

Thanks for looking everyone! I hope you have a Wonderful Wednesday!! Woohoo!! Halfway through the week :)

Just Another Day.. Is it Friday Yet?

Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday.. Its not Monday, but it's not halfway through the week either! Just another day at the beginning of the week. I'm at work taking a few minutes break and I wanted to see if I could get my post in for today. I hope everyone is having a Terrific Tuesday!

I'm working on the layout of us seeing Kevin off to the airport. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done, seeing him off and knowing I would have to wait for so long to see him again. I should finish that layout tonight. After that I will work on a page of our dog, T-Bone and that should be the last page in the album. In another month or less hopefully I will be mailing that album off to him and planning on an interview at the Consulate. Keep your fingers crossed, say a little prayer for us. I just want to move on to the next step. I want him home.

You know, there are so many challenges out there, cards, pages, sketches for both, color challenges and they go on and on and on. I've been trying to figure out a way to organize them so when I want to make a card it is easier to find or if I'm looking for a page sketch I know where to go. I've been trying to compile a list and I'm going to put it on the blog on a tab so I can share my list for everyone. Hopefully, it will help others out as much as it will help me! I've been thinking about updating the blog as well. There are so many things out there that I stopped doing .. scrapbooking, designing my own graphics, designing sketches, and more. I am going to work on updating some things on the blog; making it my own. I'll just have to do a little at a time.

So, here is an oldy, but goody. This is my mother.. These were Club Scrap items. I hope you all have a wonderful day and rest of your week!!



Apartment Living and the Last Dining Out Layout

We have lived in this apartment going on three years. It was really nice when we first moved here. I really hadn't been out on my own. I went from my mother's home to living with my husband. It was a scary transition moving out on my own and with three children in tow! We moved to a nice apartment in a nice, safe area. It was really good to get my feet on the ground and be on my own. I tolerate the noise well, because you will always have noise in an apartment.

We have lived here for the two and half years without any complaints. The rent gets paid on time or early and we take care of the place and we don't complain. We had some new neighbors move downstairs from us a while back.. maybe 6 months or maybe a bit longer? It is a young couple with a young daughter that just turned 2 years old I believe and they have a medium sized dog. He has a military sticker on his vehicle, so I'm not sure if he is military personnel or civilian working in the military? No idea there. They are not very friendly people. They don't acknowledge you, they don't say hello or even smile back at you when you smile at them. They don't speak at all. I'm not use to that.. most of the people around here acknowledge you. I'm not very social, but I do try to be kind and say hello or smile.

We hear the neighbors fighting ever now and again.. they can be quite loud with their yelling. We live upstairs from them, so we don't hear any other noise from them. They complain on us constantly. They tell the office it seems like we are moving furniture around all the time. I can assure you we aren't moving furniture around all the time. It is myself, Bailey and Michael, two cats and a 25 lb. dog. It got really bad over a few months. There was one instance that we were watching a movie and had the surround system on. Apparently the bass was too much and they could hear it. I had no idea.. I have since then turned the surround system off so we don't have that problem. They say they could hear music playing one day when I was listening to music on my computer. I can tell you I wasn't listening to my music very loudly. The husband has banged on the ceiling a few times very loudly. One of those times was when Bailey tripped over the threshold coming in the front door and fell. Another time was when Michael fell.. errr.. got pushed off the couch in the living room. One of the times was the night before last and I can't figure that one out. I was sitting at the computer/scrapbook desk working on a layout and all of a sudden BANG BANG BANG! It felt like it was right below me.. the floor vibrated under my feet. Bailey was standing at the counter in the kitchen pouring orange juice and Michael was outside taking T-Bone for wee. It just doesn't make any sense at all.

I went through a period where I really lost it.. I was angry all the time.. every day they were calling and complaining. I found myself yelling at the kids to walk softly.. yelling at the cats for jumping down to heavy.. or the dog for wrestling around with the kids. We weren't living here.. it was like a prison. I prayed and I still pray about the whole situation. It has definitely gotten better. Yesterday was the first time I've heard them bang at us in several weeks. I have been able to let go of that anger. I feel sad for them. They seem unhappy and I don't know the situation in their household. The neighbor below them says they are really loud and they say it is the dog, but she thinks it sounds like fighting.. big people. I'm not sure what it is, but what I really need to do is add them to my prayer list. I will not get angry at them again. I have found peace with that and I am certain we are not that loud.

Yesterday was an odd day. They had issues with water on their ceiling which apparently came from up here. There was a broken pipe in the wall behind my washing machine. They came in and cut a hole in the wall to find the leak. They brought in a plumber and he repaired it. It was really loud when they were cutting the hole and making the repairs. Maybe they got agitated with that noise and it just rolled over to the evening and he was just having a bad day because of it.

On to the layout LOL Glad to get that out of my system... makes me feel better to get it out.. I feel better about it all now. So, the layout is the final page of the Dining out three page series of the family going out to eat together. I needed to add some journaling to these pages and I used the last page for that. I used Sketch #214 from Creative Scrappers. Of course I had to adjust it to my itty bitty 8.5 x 11 page LOL Oh I'm so over the rectangular pages! They have great sketches over there :)

I used the same patterned papers that I have no idea who's they are, bazzill cardstock, and the same Retro Road Trip stamp set from Unity Stamp Co. I used those stamps to make the embellishments around the photo. I glittered all the embellishments with Barbara Trombley's ultra fine black glitter. Simple layout with one last photo.. I love Kevin in this photo! and my journaling for these pages.

Thank you for looking!! Almost finished! I have the airport photos and then I wanted to throw in a page or two with T-Bone.. Our first dog together :)

Have a really great Monday everyone!!

I won a prize from hopping at the Fun in the Sun hop at ...Joyful Stamper this weekend. Thank you for having such a great hop! You put in your time so that I can find new talented people to follow and get to view all sorts of great projects!!! So THANK YOU!!!