The weekend and sneaks

The weekend: 

pre anniversary weekend to KC.

started with this:

included lots of eats:

a brunch that included Christopher Elbow Chocolate. This one was a dark chocolate coated lavender infused caramel purple metallic piece of perfection. I stole Rory's and ate his too :)

and some shopping. Came home with an Anthro purchase:

 and this little beauty:

wow that's rather large. almost life size. can't wait to play :D

Good Times :)

Sneaks:

Reveal of the full Freehand Scraps gallery Oct. 1!

A week & new favorite

Has anyone else had a super crazy week? 

Seriously. I feel like I've lived 2 weeks worth...and it's just friday night!

Let's take wednesday as an example:

 Aven is back into his getting up early routine. so rise and shine at 530 a.m.

 wanting breakfast. He will starve and shrivel into nothing if he does not have breakfast this very moment.

 So breakfast for him...while I stand bleary-eyed and waiting for boy #2 to awake....and he does.

 crying. 

and fit throwing as I change the diaper because apparently he enjoys the pee-leaking thru getup he is sporting thank-you-very-much. 

breakfast #2 made. Apparently Aven isn't really that hungry after all and just wants to play. Pax doesn't care for eggs today so they end up on the floor. 

And we are dangerously low on milk because if there is ONE THING my children WILL consume it is milk. 

Decide to add that to the ever-growing grocery list and also decide today is the day I will tackle Wal-Mart with both boys (I do realize my folly in this line of thinking...and yet I continue with my plan to increase the gray hairs on my head). 

By the time everyone is dressed, teeth brushed, kitchen semi clean, eggs off the floor and kids loaded to do that doomed grocery store run it is 930a.m. 

Not bad I think. PLENTY of time. 

Mistake #125394845596045. 

Go to Wal-Mart. Silently, or not so silently whisper this is seriously THE LAST TIME I try to shop for food with 2 children in the car.

 and they are out of small juice boxes. And we need them because the most important thing in the world of 3 year olds is the day they are the snack leader. and that glorious day for Aven was thursday and HE MUST prevail with small juice boxes. Why Wal-Mart? Why must you do this to me? 

Check out and run to store #2. Get the juice boxes and a tall pumpkin spice latte (cheap therapy my friends!) and the boys are being good. 

And it's only 1130 so let's be a nice mommy and go to the park. 

The park really was fun--we were by ourselves and besides the creepiness I got at the thought of all the germs living and multiplying on the steps my youngest has decided to lick, I'm feeling pretty good. 

Time to go. 

Apparently I'm the only one wanting to go.

Finally get the kids loaded and back home. 

Carry in only the cold groceries because both boys are tired and hungry by now. 

Make 2 lunches. 

Get 2 boys down for naps and...freedom! Right?! Umm..not exactly...

Start doing some laundry and realize I haven't made my lunch yet. Do that and hurry and eat because I need to take a shower for the day...let's be honest...for the last 2 days. It's like a mini vacation for me. 

But first I need to run downstairs and respond to some emails. 30 minutes later I remember that I need to finish my bible study for that night's class..appropriately titled "victoriously frazzled!" (HA!!). 

Finish my 2 lessons and remember I need to check the mail because it might rain and I am suppose to get my next Freehand Scraps kit and the mail lady leaves boxes out by the mailbox in the street instead of the last mail lady who would bring them up to the door.

 Wonder what happened to the nice mail lady. 

Check the mail.

 

No kit. Bills-yuck. 

See that the vehicle hatch is still open with 6 more bags of food to carry in.

Unload the groceries and put away.

Remember the laundry I've forgot. 

Wasn't I suppose to be taking a shower? 

Get in the shower and there's Aven awake and asking for bubblegum. 

Start getting ready for church. 

Fix supper and coax boys into eating a little something because we need to hurry and leave and then I hear...a drip.

drip.

drip.

the dishwasher is leaking. 

seriously.........

and then today there was poop on the deck.

And I won't go into how it got there, but suffice to say it was NOT from wildlife.

I KNOW I'm not the only one with crazy days like that...right?!?

I have a new favorite layout to share:

I have always loved this saying! Maybe it's because I've always loved theatre/drama :) But when I got the new Sassafras Lass embellie prize and saw this picture of Paxton--soooo upset and distraught at the complete unfairness of his momma not allowing him to EAT DIRT!!!!!---well, I was inspired to scrap.

And scrap getting messy with ink and paint. And beautiful new products.

And trying a new layout size for me, which I LOVE.

And then I wanted to make a card for the sweet people at Sassafras thanking them for the ultimate box of goodies:

And then I decided to use a Jillibean Soup paper line that wasn't holiday-ish and turn it into a Christmasy card:

And then I got my Freehand Scraps October kit---and WHOA NELLY is it SAAAwEEeEt!

And then I remembered...God is good.

And LIFE is good. 

really, REALLY good.

even with poop on your deck.

Book Review

This book has made it's way to me:

And it might be a long time before it makes it's way onto a shelf because I keep looking through it and finding something new!

If you know me, you know I love embellishments.

Love.

Them.

Most of my scrap space is devoted to bits of "this" and pieces of "that".

Enter in The Scrapbook Embellishment Handbook.

I have several craft and scrapping books, but this is the best one I've seen in a long time. I love that it's hard cover and LOVE that it has spiral bound pages so it lays flat. 

I found new ideas on page one! Well, maybe not ONE because that's the into and stuff but page 10--inspiration begins :)

The book is divided into sections based  on embellishment types: acrylic, chipboard, and fabric, to name a few, so it's a total reference you can turn to when you are looking for specific ideas  for what you are creating with.

Each section is subdivided so you can try a new technique or idea when you want to simply create something new, if you want to kick it up a notch, or if you want a completely new "out of the box" idea.

Every idea and technique has a layout where it has been used, with descriptions of how to achieve the look and detailed shots of the process when needed.

There is even a digital section! And not that I'm tech savvy AT ALL, but it makes me wanna try!

I'm surprised I didn't know about this book until now and would definitely recommend it if you:

1. Like to scrap

2. Like to craft in general

3. Like good, well written and photographed craft/scrap books

4. Like to add some "oomph" to your pages

5. Like trying new techniques and ideas

So if you said "yes" to any or all of the above I do not think you will be disappointed!

If you get the book let me know what you think!!

Thanks Sherry! This IS the embellishment reference we scrappers have been asking for!! :)

And the weekend was...

..fun :)

Hung out with some scrappy friends friday night and saturday. Ate lots, laughed lots, watched Mamma Mia and several political shows..we're a wild bunch, aren't we ;) 

I'm never super productive during social scraps, but managed a few layouts and a card.

Wanna see?

One of my new year's resolutions was to learn how to crochet. I was thinking a blanket, but so far have only managed a layout :) Still liking the result though. Used some new Sassafras Lass goodies on this one--I knew when I saw the fruit felties exactly which layout they would land on.... and the nickname is one of my favorites for Paxton: Tooti Fruits! Have NO IDEA where it came from, but I have always called him that...and Sugar News. No idea where that's from either! The pics have a crazy glare...probably will have to retake. I choose to blame it on the overcast day. -and not my photography skills :)

And this was a neat surprise: I bought these fun patterned papers  by Jillibean Soup and when I saw these pictures while cruising iphoto the colors matched...because you know, it's all about matching the photos with the paper ;) And it's also all about super heros...at least around here anyway!

I had fun with the ink and paint on this one. I was thinking that Robin always said "Holy (something or another) Batman!" so that is where the tile comes from. And I am probably wrong, seeing as if I didn't grow up watching super hero cartoons. It made sense to me anyway!

Also made a card and another layout...which is possible my favorite layout to date. I'll share later this week. Oh the anticipation!! ;)

Should have a copy of this book from the author on it's way to me this week. Super excited to look it all over! Be looking for a review on my blog sometime soon.

How was your weekend?

a delayed "tomorrow"

remember in my last post I was suppose to share some good mail...like the next day? Well, thanks to Mr. (or maybe Mrs.? Ms.?) internet's hiatus from last friday until today, that didn't happen...until now :)

My happy mail was this...

just a box..right? A seemingly ordinary, unpromising box.

Or is it...?

Could it be.....

an awesome box full o' Sassafras scrapping goodness? 

As in EVERY SINGLE new embellishment from their newest CHA releases? Almost too good to even break into...almost ;)

And then this sweet Bo Bunny prize arrived too. The same day!

I started snipping that paper up right away and whipped out an owl shaped halloween card. Because as you might have guessed by now, I do love me some owls :)

Super fun to make! Just drew the outline on some cardboard and paper pieced the hoot together. Stitched her eyes (yes it's a "she"...notice the flower!) and the "Happy Owloween", glittered her stripes, inked her edges and flocked the black Bo Bunny swirls on her wings!

Feeling like a pretty lucky girl lately :)

September Gallery

Do you have your Hall Pass?

Lots of love for this kit. Lots.

Want more? Head over to the Freehand Scraps gallery for more inspiration than you can shake a school book at :)

As always if you have any questions just ask! I never know if people want me to share what the journaling says, the stories behind the layouts, what products were used where...or maybe that's just boring stuff...?

Something not so boring? The super fun mail that was waiting for me today! Yipee! Will share tomorrow!