My organized CHAOS...

Dustbunnies...

Okay, how in the heck did I get so many?  They're everywhere!  And what kind of dustbunny IS this?

I mean, it totally has legs!   Is that how they're able to travel everywhere?  Because in all honesty, I just cleaned under here:

And now there are new dustbunnies, some strange little specks of fluff, a sock, a book, and some yellow sunglasses living under my sons' bed again!

Really, I'm a decent housekeeper...not FABULOUS, since I'm not getting paid, hee hee.  But I am too busy to be cleaning under this bed EVERYDAY!  Is there some magic dustbunny repellant out there?  Yes, I've heard of the vacuum cleaner.  I have a DYSON, but it really only works AFTER the little dustbunnies have reproduced.  I need something BEFORE they have little babies...any suggestions?

Well, as you can tell, I haven't had a chance to do any scrapbooking.  I've been CLEANING and working on stuff for my end-of-the-year open house.  I have a 3 day NSD crop I'm sooooo looking forward to, but before I go, I have a huge list of things to do.  Yuck.  But onto the real reason for this post:

Mother's Day is quickly approaching.  I'm giving one of my first projects I ever made to my mom.   You've probably already seen this...it's in my sidebar.

Anyway, I have an extra kit and the Heidi Swapp flower ghost shapes I need to part with.  For some strange reason, I thought I'd make two of these.

I'm not and would love for someone else to use the kit to make an awesome Mother's Day present.  Just leave a message on THIS post saying you're interested and I'll choose someone to give it to on Sunday.  It'll go out in the mail on Monday, so you'll have time to finish it before Mother's Day. 

Got flowers?

Michaels does!!!

I stopped by Michaels during my son's Spanish class, and guess what they just got in stock?

Both PRIMA and AMY BUTLER yummies!

I'm a Christine Middlecamp blog-stalker, and a few posts ago, she mentioned seeing K & Company's Amy Butler line at her Michael's store.  So naturally, I became a Michael's stalker.  I went on Sunday, and nada.  But today, at 6:45 pm, they were just putting them out! 

Here are my yummies:

I couldn't help it.  I bought both Prima and Amy Butler.  They had two 12 x 12 Prima patterned paper packs as well.  I didn't buy those...way too much paper!

I opened one of the boxes of chipboard letters.  This one looks like a grey denim.  The letters have patterns on both sides.  There are also a few groovy glittered shapes.  And some of the letters have a little rhinestone bling:

I really like the packaging of the Amy Butler stuff.  It's made of recycled paper.  They stick a few groovy patterns on the back, meant for you to cut out and reuse:

I also picked up this tool caddy:

Okay, so now....what to keep.  This was all impulse buying!!!!

                        eeks.

So, I can't possibly keep all of it.  I honestly had around 10 minutes to decide on what I wanted...so, instead of really putting any thought into it,
                 I took it all, hee hee. 
I'll peek at it for a few days, and then eventually decide on what I'll really use...

            

but man, oh man...isn't it just pretty to look at?

I got one add-on

Okay, have you ever purchased something, then wished you'd chosen differently?  Of course you have...you're a girl!

Well, I think I really wanted this add-on

But I bought this one instead:

and now I have BUYER'S REMORSE.

Honestly, I wanted BOTH OF THEM!!!  But the reality of MY life is

                We're on a budget.

Normally, I'd ignore this simple fact and decide that my Studio Calico kit add-on was as necessary as buying groceries...A BASIC NEED, you know, like eating and breathing.

But yesterday was my 10 year anniversary, and I think my husband has been trying to get me to stick to a budget for about 11 of those years, hee hee.  So, I guess me only buying one kit is sort of like a late ANNIVERSARY PRESENT. 

Well, if you happen to be reading this, please make me feel better about only buying one kit...and choosing the kit that I picked, versus the one with all the pretty, happy colors. I have this icky feeling in my tummy.  And now the kit that I really wanted is SOLD OUT, so I can't buy it anyway.  Now don't you dare tell me to GET OVER MYSELF, because the kit is sold out and I can't buy it anyway.  Telling me that definitely WON'T make me feel any better.

Well, on a lighter note?...

Today's my day off.  I stayed up until 2 am this morning trying to purchase my add-on...I know, dumb, dumb, dumb.    My computer and the Studio Calico website were not cooperating with me.  Then I bought the the wrong kit.  And to make matters worse,   I had to get up at 6:30 this morning  to get my son ready for school.   

            I AM TIRED!

I think I need some coffee.  Our coffee machine really sucks and I'm in the market for a new one.  If anyone out there absolutely LOVES THEIRS, leave me a comment and tell me what it is.  I need to go out and buy a new one!

This is what I own now:

Yucky.  Do not buy this.  Your coffee will taste like poopy.

Well, I'm off to drink a cup of poopy coffee.  My day is going to get better, right?

Oops, I almost forgot.  I got tagged by Diana a few days back.  Here are my responses:

1. Four jobs I have held:

Cocktail Waitress
Home Depot employee in the paint department
Army National Guard Military Intelligence Officer
Barista

2. Four movies I could watch over and over:

The Lord of the Rings (all)

Harry Potter  (all)

Finding Nemo

Hmmm, can't think of a third one right now.

3. Four places I've lived:

Philippines
Okinawa, Japan
Virginia (can't recall the city right now...it was near one of the Air Force bases)
Augusta, Georgia

4. Four TV shows I like:

Grey's Anatomy
Ninja Warrior
Ugly Betty
iCarly (yes, I know it's a kids show.  I watch it with my boys)

5. Four people who email me regularly:

Terrie
Kim
Susan
Maryangella

6. Four favorite foods:

Rice (I know, it seems plain, but I'm half Filipina and eat it for every meal)
Hummus
Anything crunchy and salty
Lemon squares

7. Four places I’d rather be:
I actually like where I am right now, so I chose activities instead.

Sleeping in a bed with freshly changed sheets
On Summer vacation
Watching a movie in a movie theater
Shopping for scrapbook supplies

8.  Four people I'm tagging:
Tammy
Kim
Melina
Mary Jo

 

I WON! I WON!

Happy Sunday!  Well, I've had a wonderful weekend hanging out with my husband.  We decided to stay home and celebrate our 10 year Anniversary instead of going out of town, as originally planned.  Anyway, we've basically been "dating" all weekend.  We ran errands together, strolled the mall, washed our cars, went out to eat...I know,

                it sounds very ordinary.

But the difference is....WE DIDN'T HAVE THE BOYS!

How peaceful and relaxing.  Since I'm driving my "Cool mom car", we actually looked like a young couple...not worn out "Giant minivan" parents.  We make a nice couple.  I'll have to get someone to take a picture of us today.

Anyway, the real reason for this post:

                   I WON A SET OF COOL STAMPS FROM Corinne Delis!  She was recently name a Fashionista for SIStv.  She does some amazing, cool stuff.  You'll totally dig her work!Go by and check her out...and also verify that I actually won....maybe I just imagined the whole thing!

Here's one of her layouts:

Love the colors in it!

Anyway, that's all for today.  My hubby and I are headed over to Sunday Brunch this morning...then probably back home for a power nap, before we have to go pick up the boys.  That's when reality will set in again.  Well, it was fun while it lasted...

Well, I'll be back tonight.  I have a few questions to answer for Diana and I want to post pictures of the goodies I'm ordering from Studio Calico!

                   Until then!

Okay, I edited this post...

                Just got back from brunch.  How relaxing...and gut-busting!  I had a little of everything!

My husband and I had a wonderful time.  We look so squishy together because I was taking this picture on my cell phone.  I have two cameras at home, and forgot both of them.  Thank goodness for cell phones!

Something different

Hey, Happy Friday.   Tomorrow's my 10 year anniversary!  My husband and I are dropping the kids off at my parent's house and then hanging out for the weekend...I guess I won't be blogging much, hee hee.  Anyway, here's a layout I did last night...something a little different than my normal style.  It didn't take very long...I guess it's a little more "traditional" than what I usually do.

                   

The good news is, I can finally play with my Studio Calico kits!!! 

And don't forget, Studio Calico's Reveal Night is this Sunday at midnight!!!!!

Look how cute:

Isn't it all just yummy?!

Oh, I almost forgot...I've been tagged by my sweet friend, Diana.  I'm so excited.  But I can't play just yet.   We've got homework to tackle before I can leave for the weekend.  I'll be back later to post my responses and tag someone else.

Have a nice day

Good morning!

Nothing to report today. 

My son's fever is officially gone.

I have to go back to work today.

I just hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday.

My son has the ickies...

Well, my oldest son, Alexander, has the ickies.  He's had a fever since Monday afternoon.  He's been sleeping on the couch and I've been on the floor next to him.  Now I have the ickies.  Anyway, since we've been having this "slumber party" the last few days, I've been stuck at home and managed to create another layout using my DT kit.  Let me just mention something about these kits that I get.  They aren't like the Studio Calico kits that have a variety of different manufactures.  In my kits, I get all the paper and embellishments from ONE LINE.  It is then my job to make my layouts not seem so matchy-matchy.  Don't get me wrong, I loooooove being on the Design Team for my LSS Scrapbook Central.  But it has taken every creative juice in my entire being to continually produce layouts that still flow with my style.  Okay, having said that, here's another layout I did with Crate Paper's Blue Hill line.  So basically, it's the rest of the stuff I didn't use in my previous layout, You are my starshine...

                   

Here are a few close-ups:

       

                              

    

                              

Well, that's all for now.

I have to go take care of my little sickie...

Clean and Simple?

Okay, I finished this layout last night.  I'm still exploring my style...not quite sure what it is yet, hee hee.  Anyway, I've been told that my stuff is busy and chaotic...didn't really take that as a compliment.  So here's my attempt to simplify the chaos:

Here are a few close-ups:
                                          

                                                   

                         

         

So how did I do?  Does it look simple and clean?  It was hard to walk away from...but I'm done with it. 

If you haven't already seen this one, I finished it a little while ago.  It's on Scrapbook Central's site...and I even posted it on Studio Calico's...which was a little intimidating  for me, since their Design Team is super-talented:

                        

Well, I have to start my day.  Christopher is home playing hooky with me, hee hee.  We're off to Target and then Home Depot...
                                                      

I'm just breathing...

Hello again.

I've gotten quite a few emails asking where I've been, if I'm sick or just busy.

The truth is, I'm usually both...sick and busy, hee hee. 

                    I'm a mom of two dirty, wonderfully active boys.

              I'm a wife.

            And a preschool teacher.

            My mother's sick and has been.

            I'm behind in getting my DT layouts turned in.

           I don't have a nanny, yardman, or maid. 

                           

                            I'm all three.

        Tomorrow I'm the plumber.  I'll be changing the lid to my toilet.

      It's been broken for several days now, and I fear something I value,

                                        like my toothbrush

        will one day fall into my toilet that presently has no lid.

But back to my story...

                    Where have I been?  and what have I been up to?

Ready for this?

                                    I've been breathing.

That's all...

                                    just breathing.

Ha!  Fooled you guys.  Yeah, I've been breathing...but I've also been

                                                DRIVING!

                                                                           because

            I'M TOO SEXY FOR MY CAR, TOO SEXY FOR MY CAR
                                    TOO SEXY BY FAR...

               

I know, I know...it still looks kinda like a mini-van, but isn't it cute?

And look at this....GOODBYE MOM JEANS,

(my old mini-van)

HELLO COOL-MOM JEANS!!!!

I love, love, love my car.  I have been driving everywhere, running errands just so I can drive my little "cool mom car"!  So that's where I've been...enjoying my car!  There's nothing wrong...I've just been out reliving my young, carefree pre-MOM years, hee hee!

ZOOM-ZOOM

 

                          P.S.  Don't you just loooooooove my car?!!!

Drumroll Please!!!!!!

First of all,

            

thank you

                            thank you

                                            thank you

for all your responses and kind words of encouragement regarding my work. 

            

You guys must really want that threading water punch, hee hee!

I'm still sorting through all of your comments and ideas, so it will be  a little while before I finish the layout and finish responding personally to all of your posts and emails.

Anway, as promised, I have chosen a winner!!!  I wanted to give away 2 punches since I got so many responses, but haven't been able to find another one :(  So regrettably, I can only give away one.

I used Random.org to create a list and randomly choose a name for the #1 spot.

                            and that name is.......................

                                                                        Joanne Smith!!!!!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Joanne, aka "Spagirl"  please send me your address so I can send your punch   to you!!!! 

And ladies, thanks again!!!!  I'll post a picture of the layout in a future post. 

Before I go, I'll leave you with a picture of a layout I did for the Scrapbook Central DT.  I was given the paper line MY JUNGLE SAFARI, by Reminisce.

Go to their website, so you can see what I was working with: My Jungle Safari.  If you don't feel like going there, to give you an idea of my

migraine paper, 

here are a few pieces:

                                                                               

                                                                                                

Okay, the paper is  over-the-top cutesy.   I don't tend to use/buy themed paper, so this was SUPER CHALLENGING for me.  We actually took a trip to the zoo, so I'd have a photograph.  Anyway, here's what I came up with:

Uuugh, what else could I have possibly done with this paper?!

It's sitting on my sons' dresser:

I didn't know what else to do with it!

My question...

How do you  quickly  move through a layout when you're given something  you  normally wouldn't choose to create with?

And remember, I couldn't simply use only one little lion cutout...or even just one measly piece of paper. 

If you have any layouts where you've used really cute themed paper, either email them to me or post a link to your work.  I could really use some advice and ideas for next time!  Thanks!