Living My Dream

A VERY proud Mama Moment...

My son Thane received his mission call for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints two days before Christmas. He wanted to wait to open it on Christmas day. The next two days were crazy - I couldn't stop thinking about that envelope under the Christmas tree that would tell us where my son would be living for the next two years of his life. I snapped this picture right as he opened it and was reading us the location: This was a very special moment for our family, so nothing else really mattered that morning. This gift kind of stole the show if you know what I mean! He will be serving in the Bahia Blanca, Argentina Mission... Read more →

Dear Lizzy Christmas Tags

The week before Christmas, I spent most evenings making Christmas tags for my gifts and cookies. I always enjoy this process, so I really do it for ME, not just the receiver! I used my Slice with the three Christmas Cartridges: Merry Christmas, Noel and FaLaLa. I used the American Crafts Dear Lizzy Christmas line for everything - all the papers and many of the embellishments and trims. To add a bit of sparkle, I finished them with some glitter glue by Martha Stewart. Here are some photos: I hope you ALL had a wonderful Christmas. I myself am just glad it is almost all over! I will be back several times this week as I have a lot to... Read more →

Not a Christmas Post...

...but a New Years goal one today. I will be posting lots of Christmas handmade tags in the next few days though, so come back for a visit soon. I keep making them, but I just haven't bought any presents to put them on. I really need to get started soon with my least favorite activity ever - shopping. I think I would rather go visit convicts in jail then go to the mall... Anyway, back to the point of this post. I vow (publicly) to began running again starting today (yesterday actually!). My relationship with running has been a bit hot and cold over the years. Two years ago I was running five miles a day and loved it.... Read more →

Be Of Good Cheer

Anyone remember that long post I put up around a year ago about how being happy is a decision? Unfortunately, I remembered it this morning and decided to adjust my scrooge-like attitude. Actually, I can't give myself all the credit - church brought me out of the doldrums. I think I was forgetting what the holiday season is all about. It is so easy to get "snowed" under the pile of to do lists and forget to enjoy the beauty around us. I realized yesterday that I never sit in front of my tree and look at it. So I took a peek and it is REALLY pretty! Slowing down definitely has it's benefits. Today in church, my 19 year... Read more →

Spreading Christmas Cheer?

I'm not feeling it, so I am hoping that YOU, my blog readers might find a way to cheer me up. I am always so over tired, over spent, over behind, and over eating during the season, that I just can't wait for it to be all be over! This is Bob and Sam. They are my newest addition to my elf collection. I bought them at Tai Pan in St. George. I love them!!! Originally I just wanted to carry them around the store because they were so scary looking, I thought they would frighten my children and Jordan. But then I became rather fond of them. So the first visit ended up with Sam going home with us... Read more →

Our Christmas Card (via Shutterfly!):

Picture In Landscape 5x7 folded card Modern greeting cards and party invitations by Shutterfly. View the entire collection of cards. Read more →

Gingerbread Houses

I love gingerbread houses. I usually buy one for the girls to make at Christmas time and take tons of pictures of them eating all of the goodies. Here is a page that I made recently for the December Creating Keepsakes. You can always click on my images if you want to see them bigger. This layout was seen in the December 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes Magazine. Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher. While Chloe and I were in Utah last week, we made a Christmas Gingerbread House banner for my Dad's hospital wall. I think I have mentioned how much I love my Slice, right? Well, Michaels has had the cartridges on sale... Read more →

And the Winners Are....

Thank you for your patience! I was out of town AGAIN in the same place (St. George) for the past few days. But I am back and I am ready to announce the two book give-a-way winners! Scrapbooking Everyday Memories: My finger and toes are crossed. Oh pretty please pick me, pick me, pick me!! Thanks for a chance to win! ☺ Posted by: ♥Wendi | December 07, 2010 at 05:31 AM Tips and Tricks Special Issue: Stamps and Ink: I can never have enough inspiring idea books, thanks for the chance! Posted by: cindy barriga | December 10, 2010 at 10:22 AM Random Integer Generator Here are your random numbers: 13 40 Timestamp: 2010-12-14 01:59:58 UTC If you could... Read more →

American Crafts Blog...

Check out the American Crafts Blog today. My assignment as the guest designer today was to make a Christmas layout and card using the new Dear Lizzy Christmas line. We decorated the tree on Sunday, so I took pictures of Miss Mayzie in front of it. I seriously loved these photos - they are so much fun! Here is a sneak peek of my layout: Don't forget to leave a comment on the last blog post to be eligible to win one of CK's newest two special issues! TFL! Suzy Read more →

It's Giveaway time again - Two New CK Books - Whoooohoooo!

Today I get to announce not one, but two new Creating Keepsakes special issues! And I will be giving away one of each to a randomly selected comment on this blog post on Monday morning. So leave comments through Sunday night to be eligible (December 12th). The first new special issue is called Scrapbooking Everyday Memories. Here is a picture of the beautiful cover: Scrapbooking everyday life is anything but ordinary with the ideas in this new special issue. Featuring inspiring layouts about family traditions, hobbies and interests, activites and routines and more, following these creative ideas will help your everyday pages be among the most interesting in your scrapbooks. You can purchase it at the Scrap and Paper Shop... Read more →