sunday

Some days I get in the "funk" - I'm sure you know what I mean.  The "dragging down", the feeling that there is so much and you are only one person.  You are trying so hard and yet it is never enough.  Feeling in "that place" today - if I could just change my perspective sometimes . . . see the glass half full . . . stop getting bogged down with every little thing . . .

And these two - trying every last little bit of patience I have - these little stinkers :)



Nicholas is full of strong will & tantrums these days . . . but lots of snuggles & hugs too.  I think part of it is just frustration at not being able to communicate.  He makes lots of sounds but struggles with the words.  He is silly and mischievous.  He is a true explorer & usually free of fear - except when it comes to people.  He becomes very shy around other adults - but kiddos - LOVES them!!!  He is totally a momma's boy - but only for like 5 minutes, and then he's all "Mr.Tough & Independent" :)  He LOVES doing whatever Ryan is doing.  I think he thinks he is 5 :)  He is obsessed with Superheroes which I think is so funny because he isn't even 2 :)  He also is obsessed with Cookie Monster too which is totally age appropriate :)  He is very different from Ryan, so I feel as if I am starting new with "mommyhood" in respects to him - my approach to so many things is different with him.  I am learning the toddler years all over again :)



Ryan is trying to be so grown-up.  He is extremely bright, which can be both a blessing and a curse :)  He questions alot, both in appropriate & inappropriate times.  He is sweet and kind - his heart is so good.   He tells me stories of how he sticks up for friends at school who are being teased & I am so proud of him.  He is a reader - just pours over books.  He LOVES technology too - TV& video games - it's often a struggle between us.  There are moments I see him pulling away from me - trying his hand at a new world of friends & playmates.  Tonight he told me I was his hero :)



Motherhood is full of ups & down, highs & lows, and when the day comes to an end - I try to look over all of it & just choose to be thankful, for every single moment of it.



No worries though - if you are looking for more than just my current thoughts on the journey of motherhood - I've got some scrappy to share too :)  My recent layouts for Noel Mignon . . .









Off to clean up before bedtime :)  I'll leave you with a tune for your evening . . .

monday

Did you hear??? Noel Mignon is accepting kit subscription spots for new subscribers beginning with the January 2013 kit - YAY!!!  Her kits are FABULOUS and you will just LOVE them :)



Check out all the details HERE :)

tuesday

Loving this song tonight . . .



And getting excited for this show to begin next week . . .



And happy to share these cards I created as the September Guest Designer for The Card Kitchen!!!

monday

Hello everyone!!!  Popping in to share some Noel Mignon goodness from the past two weeks :) The first layout was made using the September Evening Stroll kit - such a GORGEOUS kit!!!  I just LOVE this pic of my parents & kids from earlier this summer . . .

 
I'm becoming slightly addicted to washi tape these days & decided to use this great navy stripe tape from the kit to create an oversized photo corner of sorts . . .



I've always wanted to use those tiny word stickers within my journaling and decided to use these cute My Minds Eye ones from the kit on this layout.  I really like the look of the stickers within the journaling - must do that again soon :)



Next up is this month's sketch challenge - YAY!!!  All the details for the challenge can be found HERE.  Check out this month's sketch . . .



Here is what I came up with using the Evening Stroll kit . . .



Again I created photo corners again with the washi tape, but this time I placed them on the diagonals of the whole page.  It seems to draw your eye to the photo more I think :)



Oh and don't forget!!!  Today starts the Back to School Crop . . .



Head to the forum HERE for all the info on this weeks challenge "classes" - I am "teaching" Chemistry & Home Ec.  It will be TONS of fun so be sure to stop in & play along!!!!  Happy Monday :)

wednesday

Guess what . . . I'm hosting a challenge over at My Scraps & More for their Back To Class Online Crop this weekend!!!!  The dates of the crop are September 7th - 9th so be sure to head on over to the forum HERE & find out all the details :)  Hope to see you there!!!

 

sunday

via Pinterest

This pertains to so many things in my life these days . . . it is a transition time right now, in my life.  Lots of things are so different & I am learning, day by day, to find my way.  This little one is growing up, too fast.  Trying so hard to find his way, wanting to be independent but yet not really wanting to . . .



Kindergarten is going well, but the long days are hard for him . . . for me too.  Although my days are still full, with this little stinker . . .



they seem empty at the same time too, without Ryan here :)  We are finding our way - Ryan & I - learning this new part of our lives.  This is part of the growing, for both of us.

Nicholas misses him too during the day, I can just tell :)  And when we pick Ryan up from school he gets SOOOOOOOO excited.  It's so freakin' adorable, not gonna lie :)  And Nicholas is loving the extra mommy time :)  He has become a serious SNUGGLEBUG, which is so very unlike him - he's the tough guy for sure, but these days, a sweet snugglebug :)  And I absolutely love it!!!

LOTS of scrapping to share in the next few weeks, some fun special things :) For today, my most recent post for Noel Mignon using the GORGEOUS September Evening Stroll kit . . .



So many fun tidbits in this kit, Echo Park chipboard & stickers and Jenni Bowlin tags . . .



Oh & lots of journaling on this - I think I am getting the hang of this journaling thing :)



If you are looking for some great fun & inspiration this September, be sure to join us over at Noel Mignon for this . . .



It's gonna be a blast!!!  Hope you are all well & getting ready for the fall season - I can't wait!!!

friday

Only 2 full days left until this little guy starts Kindergarten . . .



I can't believe it has been 5 1/2 years since this kiddo entered my world :)  It seems like just yesterday :)  What will it be like without this little man by my side every day???????????????  I can't even imagine it . Ryan is super excited to begin his new school & learn all kinds of new stuff but I know there is a little bit of worry too - although he is not saying it.   We attended his orientation just the other day and although he was a bit nervous at first, he left so happy :)  I'm not going to lie, mommy is a bit fearful over here.  Just hoping I can hold back the tears to after I've dropped him off :)

Of course I'll still be busy at home with this little guy . . .



He is just growing, growing, growing.  But, still not quite walking on his own completely.  Yes he is 19 mths & yes that is late, very late.  But he does love to walk, just only if he is holding your hand.  We had our first session the other day with a physical therapist to help get him where he should be with the walking and low & behold he took 20 steps at once all by himself!!!  That little sneak, hiding his walking abilities :)  Since the he has been surprising us with his new found abilities here & there.  It is so funny to actually see him walking on his own.  But he only does a bit & then fusses for mommy to hold his hand :)  And I'm not gonna lie, usually I'm a sucker for the tears :)

And me, well tired as usual, but I think that is just all mommies, right???  I have been doing some scrapping, both for assignments & just for my own fun :)  We had a fun week of scraplifting members over at Noel Mignon a few weeks ago.  Here is a layout I created lifting a page by Teresa Gillman using the Noel Mignon August West Coast kit.



These adorable kraft butterflies were actually little butterfly pennants but I flattened them out & created this little butterfly banner :)



Loved this gorgeous pink doily in the kit . . .



Oh & a close-up of the "pull-out" journaling card.  I have wanted to tell this story for a while now & the West Coast kit had just the right ingredients . . .



 

Okay now I know a lot of my readers like sketches so guess what I have . . .  a sketch for the August Sketch Challenge over at Noel Mignon!!!  We have a few entries so far but I'd love to see even more!!! You don't have to use a kit to participate & one lucky participant will win a $10 gift certificate to the store :)  You can find all the details HERE.  Check it out the sketch . . .



Here's what I came up with using the gorgeous West Coast kit, love this pic of my dad with the kids . . .



Creating this last layout was just pure fun for me :)  I say that because I just played around and really didn't think every little detail through.  Abnormal for me :)  Anyways, my little guy is in LOVE with Legos these days & he is so good with them.  It just amazes me . . .



The teal polka-dotted ruffle is really a Studio Calico Fabrip from the West Coast kit.  I actually folded it back and forth, sticking it down as I went on a small strip of cardstock.  This made it easier for me to work with it :)


I loved using these Heidi Swapp polaroid frames for both my pics and text :)



The NEW September Noel Mignon kit, "Evening Stroll" will be up for sale tomorrow HERE  & it is awesome (as they always are) . . .



If you haven't tried Noel's kits you must!!!  I know I am a DT member but I bought her kits for years before I started working with her.  They are jam-packed with so many fabulous papers & goodies.  Many kit clubs have add-ons each month but her kit's are so full you don't need to add in anything more.  I love that there is always such a great mix of alphas and paper lines.  And SO MANY little bits & pieces to add on your pages - which I LOVE!!!!

Be back sooner than later (fingers crossed)!!!

monday

I know I have said this before but I don't know how people blog regularly.  I mean I know there was a time when I did - like years ago :)  But for some reason finding my way to the keyboard & not getting distracted by pinterest, Facebook, blog reading, or some other crafty/social internet temptation seems like an impossible feat these days.  Not to mention the kiddos are keeping me busy.  I am hoping to get myself in gear once school starts & I have some time all to myself in the afternoons.  Right now Nicholas takes a good 2 1/2 - 3 hour nap - yes, I'm spoiled - I know.  But I feel totally deserving of this as Ryan gave up all naps before he was even two!!!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed Nicholas stays a good napper - we'll see :)

Have I been scrapping - why yes I have :)  I have been setting aside every Tuesday night to work on my Wednesday post for Noel Mignon.  This one was my post for last week - full of all sorts of goodies from the August West Coast kit!!!



Here is a close-up of the journaling.  The pic was just one of those random ones you snap, not really knowing what you are capturing until you really look at it.  These two saying goodbye after a fun-filled day at the beach.  I love it - they just look so happy with one another & like they are really having a hard time saying goodbye - tugs at the heartstrings people!!!



I recently have been trying out wash tape - there is a neat one in the kit that is sheer but has a pattern running through it. I loved the subtle hint of red it added amidst the blues :)  Of course I stitched over it - because I love to throw some stitches in hear & there :)



I also missed posting from the week before that :(  Behind, behind, behind!!!  This layout features the Summer Wind kit.  I was really excited about the arrow border on this one.  The design team was asked to incorporate the current trends of chevron & arrows into our project.  I broke out my Cuttlebug & die-cut a bunch of little arrows, lined them up on some hand-drawn borders & voila - cool custom made border!!!



I love creating titles (I think I've mentioned this one before - ha!!) .  There was this great tag in the kit & I added that adorable dimensional "sweet" sticker from MME, some twine, and Thickers.



Here is a close-up of the border.  I think this would be really fun with all different sorts of die-cut shapes.  I will have to start going through my dies & cartridges and see what I can come up with.  You might also notice that folded grey paper border behind the chevron.  In real life it adds some fun dimension to the page, although it is hard to see here.



Hope all is well out there!!!  Be back soon :)