Short on supplies....

Ok first and foremost....here is some more goodies that will be included in the 2010 book that we will be doing for the January crop. I have lots of plans for this book and it includes tons of cool stuff.

I have been working hard on my December Daily book, although most of my stuff for this book is still on the UPS truck that was supposed to arrive at my house on Friday. Yep, you calculated right...if I get the supplies Monday this only gives me one day to complete my book before December 1st. Wonderful!

The good news is this forced me to scrounge around and use some of my stuff that has been laying around so that I could get started...and I must say it has been turning out pretty good, I think. So at this point I am not quite half done and am at a stopping point. It looks like I will have lots of work ahead of me on Monday. Let's just hope the truck gets here early tomorrow!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! We got our tree cut down and put it up last night. I LOVE LOVE LOVE a fresh cut tree. Our livingroom is looking so festive now! It has definitely put me in the mood for Christmas. I just can't believe how fast the time is going. I want December to just slooooooow down so we can enjoy it!

What a great day!

We got to spend time with Aaden.......

We did a little reading......

Khloe didn't really agree with Johnny Depp being chosen Sexiest Man Alive.....I couldn't argue....

Then she found a picture of David Beckham and felt much better!

Don't you just love this time of year? We went to my parents for Thanksgiving and had a very relaxing day! We ate, napped, and got some reading in! It was just nice to have a day off to do NOTHING!

You know how it is...you stay at home on a day off and it isn't ever really a day off between the laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, etc. It ends up that you work harder on your day off than at your job! So, it was nice being at my mom and dads and not being able to do all of that stuff.

I did however bring a couple of crafty projects along to do. I started working on my December Daily book. This is the first year I am actually doing this. I wanted to last year and just didn't get it done. I know, I really started early this year, right? What is it...only 4 days till December? I better get moving. Ali does a FANTASTIC job on hers every year and I thought it looked like such a great way to document the holiday season.

So here is my plan.......
Yep, that's right....that is my whole plan right now! I used Zutter 8x8 chipboard and used black and white damask fabric and wrapped it using Pellon backing to adhere the fabric to the book. Then I took some red ribbon and edged the fabric on the inside to finish it off.

Luckily I have a four day weekend and plan to spend every free second working on this. That means by Tuesday you should be seeing a finished book.

Wish me luck!

I'm thankful for........

....these two!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Life is....fun

Here is Khloe's new favorite spot.

We set up the Christmas decorations last week and this is where she camps out now sometimes. She loves to try and sneak the figurines out of the nativity....she just glances over at me to see if I'm watching and gives me a big smile and then waits till I leave the room to snatch them all out.

The fun part is she thinks she is being pretty sneaky. What she doesn't know is that I love playing this game with her. She gets the cutest look on her face when I tiptoe back in the living room and catch her in the act. I can't resist!

I know, I know, it's all fun and games now....just wait till she gets older, right? As of right now, the guilty look on her face always gives her away. I'm hoping I can always spot that look!

I picked up the "Elf on the Shelf" this weekend at a Hallmark store. It was 20% off so I couldn't pass it up. I can't wait to get it out after Thanksgiving!

Elle's Studio

I have officially started putting together the projects for the Snowflake Scrap in January!

YAY!

I will post the projects that will be available at the scrapbooking event the first week of December. In the meantime, I decided to start showcasing some of the products we will be using in the projects.

The first ones are these CUTE calendar tags from Elle's Studio. I have had my eye on them for quite awhile and I think I found the perfect project to use them on! Elle has tons of cute things in her shop so be sure and check it out!

Anyone looking for a Cricut.....

Ok so I have lots of exciting news! If there are some of you out there who don't have a Cricut, there is a HUGE sale going on over at Craft-e-Corner!

If you DO have a Cricut, be sure and still check out the sale. There is the new Gypsy on sale, the Jukebox is on sale, cartridges on sale....everything is on sale!!!!

I am looking at getting the Cricut Expression with + the Design Studio Software. I think by far this is the best deal! You get the Cricut + 2 cartridges + the Design Studio Software for only $269.84! It normally retails for $529.98!

THEN....if you go to the bottom of the screen there is a little place that says "Click here to join our email list and get 10% off." I tried it out and the email that you get with the 10% off says it is good on all sale, clearance, and regular price merchandise.

WHOO HOO!!! That makes the Cricut machine just that much cheaper!

So head over and pick yourself up a machine or some accessories...or better yet.......let Santa know that is what you want for Christmas! :)

Oh and to sweeten the deal a bit....FREE SHIPPING!!!

Time for some deals...

Here is another layout I did on Khloe. I am FINALLY coming along on her book!

I wanted to pass on a couple of good sites to find some discounted scrapbooking items. Peachy Cheap changes their deals daily and Crop Chocolate changes their items sometimes 2-3 times a day. They always have their stuff at least 1/2 off of retail price. You can find some really good deals sometimes! Great places to find some stuff for Christmas presents! :)

Happy Shopping!

Oh I almost forgot.....I added the date and time for the next scrapbooking event I'm hosting and will be adding the rest of the info by next week! Be sure to check back!

Nie Nie

I just wanted to point out the little blue typewriter that is down on the lower right side of my blog. It says "I read Nie Nie."

Some of you may have heard of Stephanie Nielson. She was on Oprah not too long ago. She and her husband were in a terrible plane crash that left burns over 80% off her body. Her husband got out of the plane with a broken back and ankle, but he went back for Stephanie and saved her life. It is an AMAZING story.

If you want to check out her blog just click on the blue typewriter and it will take you there. You can also google her and check out her interviews on Oprah and some others that will explain her story. Just be sure and have your kleenex ready!

I pointed this out only because I think it is a great way for many of us to appreciate what we have in our life!

There are definitely many nights when it comes to be bath time at my house and I drag my feet because I'm tired and don't want to do it. Or Khloe wants a book read for the 10th time and I'm tired of reading it. I remember listening to one of Stephanie's interviews where she said she would give about anything to be able to put her kids in and out of the bath and hold them on her lap, but she can't because it hurts her burns to bad. I can't even imagine!

Be sure and check out her blog. I think it is a source of daily inspiration! Just to remind us that sometimes when we THINK we are having a bad day....it maybe isn't as bad as we think!

Birthday Box

I just finished working on this birthday countdown box. I used the Basicgrey Cupcake paper to cover the little boxes. The actual box is a Karen Foster 3-D Countdown Calender. It took a little longer than I anticipated it would. Cutting out all those little squares...whew!

Anyways, the end result paid off I think! I also made a Christmas one that I can't wait to use. I think Khloe will really have fun with it this year. I'm also considering getting this for us. I think it would be a fun game to get up every morning and find the elf!

EA (Etsy Anonymous)

"Hi my name is Holly and I have an addiction."

It goes something like this right? I just can't get enough of Etsy. I think my entire Christmas list this year is from Etsy. I guess it makes it easier on santa, right?

Here's how some of the list goes:
(now keep in mind these are things I like so no going out and buying them...hee hee)


I have been needing some new pillows for my couch. The first one is the only one that got the seal of approval from my husband and that was after a lot of hounding to pick one that he liked....we have a little bit different taste!

I asked him "Don't you think these would make nice fall pillows?"

I bet you can guess his response...."Oh great, now we need fall pillows?"

I AM IN LOVE with this one.....and my husband thinks I have now fallen completely off the nutty bus.

I am addicted to headbands lately.....especially ones with flowers...I'm trying not to go too overboard...who knows how long this trend will last?!?!

This little beauty will belong to me one day......when I have somewhere to go with it!



My Nikon strap just isn't doing it for me. I thought this one could do the job!

Well there you have it, the very beginning of my great Etsy list.
Stay tuned for part II, III, IV, V, etc.

You crack me up

This is one of my favorite pages that I have done recently. I think the best part about this page is I think my husband actually forgot about these pictures until he saw this page! These pictures were taken back when Khloe was just starting to laugh and her laugh would just crack us up so we were willing to do about anything just to make her laugh (Troy especially).

I used the Tim Holtz Fragments again on this page. I placed them over the year just so it stood out a little bit more. If you have never used the fragments before....you need to start now! They are so versatile.

Speaking of cracking us up.....

Goal Board

So for the longest time now I have been wanting to make myself a goal/vision board. Everywhere I turn all I hear is people saying is "write down your goals" and "you must look at your goals daily to achieve them" so I finally am deciding to make myself a board. I got this board in white and made some holiday magnets to hang my goals from.

The magnets are just different holiday papers. I used Little Yellow Bicycle Decorative Edged Tablet. I had a heck of a time finding just some cute green and red holiday paper with designs on it. I adhered some Tim Holtz Ideology Circles/Ovals Fragments on top. I used Glossy Accents to adhere the paper to the fragments. It dries clear and pretty fast! Then I just purchased some strong hold magnets from a craft store and attached them to the back.

Voila...super cute and easy magnets! I plan to change them out every season to keep it fun!

Now I just need to find a place to hang it!

It was only a dream

I must be dreaming....because not in a million years would I have thought that a day after my daughter got home from the hospital from having her tonsils and adenoids out that I would have to tell her to stop running around the house! It is unbelieveable!

I know the pictures might be just a little blurry....but let me tell you there is only one reason for that. I couldn't catch her in a shot because she was running around so fast! She decided that she wanted to give her monkey a "piggyback" ride.....and she was gone. We kept saying "slow down, slow down." I don't think she heard a word we were saying!

When she finished with the monkey she decided to have a little fun jumping on the couch! How in the world do you tell a 23 month old that she needs to take it easy?? She does get tired a lot faster we have noticed. When she goes down, she goes down hard!

Well so much for having to take care of a sick kid for the next couple weeks....I think the bigger challenge might be slowing her down! She asked for a hamburger, chinese, and fried rice today. I think her appetite might be a little bit bigger now! :)

Has anyone seen a nurse?

Well this is where I was lucky enough to spend my day/night yesterday! Khloe had to have her tonsils and adenoids out yesterday! We have been fighting sore throats probably since we have had her. Just as the doctor suspected when he went in for the 15-20 minute surgery (I know, fast, right?) her tonsils were HUGE! He claimed you could drive a truck through her little throat now!

Khloe did SOOO good! I couldn't have asked for a better kid yesterday! She even went with the nurses to the O.R. pretty well. There really wasn't any tears that we saw before she left!

We did have quite the rough day and night yesterday. I swear as soon one nurse walked out and Khloe would just fall asleep another nurse would walk in. Nobody there had ever heard the term "whisper" I'm sure. It is absolutly amazing to me that we stayed on the pediatric floor and nobody seemed to know enough to let a kid sleep! I think there might have been one or two times where she got an hour nap without anyone coming in (this includes during the day and night). They couldn't seem to understand why she wouldn't just lay still to take her medicine...I mean the kid wasn't extremely overtired or anything! I really couldn't believe how well she did under the circumstances. There was a couple of student nurses there and I can honestly say they were the best ones! They were quiet when they came in and talked to her softly and explained things to her before they started. SO PATIENT!!! And....then there were the other nurses! :) One of them squeezed her mouth together so hard when she was trying to put the medicine in her mouth I finally took her hand in mine ripped it off of Khloe and grabbed the medicine from her.

AUGHHHH have I mentioned how good it is to be home! :) Khloe came home today around 11 and took a 3 hour nap with me and she is like a new kid! I actually had to tell her to stop jumping on the couch! Like I said before...someone needs to clue them in on how much sleep can help a kid! She is pretty tuckered out tonight and is already asleep. Unfortunatly we have to wake her up a couple of times to do medicine tonight, but better to do it at home! Speaking of which it is time to go do that now!

WHEW........

Well what do you think of the NEW blog???? I'm so excited about it!!!! It has a lot more options for me to post different things and share more with everyone! I want to thank Vanessa @ Butterfly Sparks for all of her help with the design! It was a long process, but the end result is well worth it!

I have been working on A LOT of projects and pages to post so.....why not start right now! This is a page I just finished working on for Khloe. I am SOOO far behind with her book it is unreal! I don't know why I waited so long to start her book. She is almost 2 and I think it would have been easier to start when she was a baby and slept more!

It has been so much fun to bring out my creative side again! It has definitely been too long!