Tranquil Moments

ya never know who you'll meet...

when you're on vacation.  tee hee

Today we went down to the coffee shop here by the hotel and look who I got to see!!!  Terri and Nathalie, both Willow girls.  WOOOHOO!  We had fun and just chatted about everything under the sun.  What a fun hour that was hanging with them.  Terri is the owner of Color Me Miki...check her out if you haven't already.  Nathalie is French, you know.  ;)  Enchanté Nathalie! :)

After our visit we went on a drive to the MEXICO border.  Crazy right?  I know...but the hubs wanted to.  This is the farthest south we have ever been in California.  We are on an overpass that states, LAST USA EXIT.  The next one you see in the distance here says MEXICO, autos only.  I wasn't tall enough to get my arms up over the fence.  LOL

More pics tomorrow after we visit Disney.  :)

success.

My first kits with CupCards {to go} were a huge success!  I am so happy about that!  Can't wait to show everyone what we have in store for December!  :)

Thought I'd share just a couple of cards I made with the kit (which is still on my table waiting for more creating time.  ;)  )
I love how simple this came out.  Notice I didn't even add machine stitching?  I know...what was I thinking anyways?  HAHA  The stitch marks are drawn on with a pen.  The awesome tree tag is from petitepear over at Etsy.  She makes the greatest tags.  I added a whole bunch of orange peel stickles to the leaves so they would sparkle, because you know how much i love the sparkles! 

This card is for the sketch.  Again simple.  I had fun tying all those buttons on with real hemp cord. 

What a surprise!

Take a look at what arrived in the mail on Saturday.  (the apron not the oven.  haha)
WOW WEE...what a wonderful surprise.  There was no "note" included so I have no idea who it's from.  To the person who sent it...thank you very much!  I love it!!  I'll have a take a pic of me with it on holding my coveted cupcake book.  I love making cupcakes and can't wait to get into my new kitchen to do so.  It's going to be a baking party for sure! 

Ciao!

back from Expo

Michele and I are completely exhausted.  WHEW WEEE!!!  What a weekend!  My classes were PACKED in the mornings.  I think I had 3-5 seats open in each one, which left very little elbow room.  The afternoon classes weren't as busy (I guess people like to shop!  haha)  We had a blast making 6 cards AND an envelope in ONE HOUR!  Yes, one hour.  Amazing huh?  I didn't think we could do it but we did!  The students followed along and got all their cards done.  And, I have to say, that was at 9am...a few of us weren't so awake.  ;)  Well done ladies!!   The 1030am class was a mini album with lots of pages to cover.  We finished all of it but 2 pages...pretty good for a whole bunch of people in one room huh?  Wish I had a photo to prove it...I always forget to get picture happy with my camera.  ugh.  It's good to be home and back on routine.

Thought I'd share a quick pic from our hotel window.  So cool being right across the street from the Capital building.  It's amazing inside (I've been in there once with the hubs)!  We had a very overcast and cold day on Saturday which was really weird.

And now for the winner of the cupcake links in the post below.  I am always on the hunt for unique "cupcake" related items and I think this one take the cake!  (haha...get it....cake!?)  I totally love this!  I'm writing on my wish list RIGHT NOW!!  SO SO ADORABLE!  It's from Boojiboo over on Etsy.  I love that site...gets me hooked every time I go over there to "browse."  LOL!  But here's what I want to know...how much is that oven in the background??  WOWZERS!  That thing's a beauty!  I bet it still works too!  So I'd like to thank Dawn for the link.  Email me your mailing addy and I'll get those Halloween tags in the mail for ya so you have them for next Friday!  :)   

Ciao!

SL double sketch treat!

This month for Scarlet Lime I decided to share 2 sketches with everyone!  A special treat for your Halloween cards.  So enjoy and be sure to show us all what you did with the sketch over in the SL Gallery.  :)

 

need ideas.

I'm making a list and of course, all things cupcake are on it!  Christmas is right around the corner ya know.  ;)

Today I found this really cool clutch from Neiman Marcus.  While it was a mere $4300.00 which is just pricelessly crazy (is that a word?) I loved drooling over it.  All the Austrailian crystals made it sparkle so nicely.  Can you just see me carrying that to a fancy dinner?  bwaaahaaaaaaa  :)  Unfortunately, it is no longer available...someone must have snatched it up in a hurry.

So here's where you come in...I need MORE cupcake ideas.  Link up your favorites so I can take a look.  I have some really cool Halloween tags from the Making Memories Spellbound Collection to give away.  I'll pick a winner on Monday.  Let's see what you can find.  Thanks for the help!

Ciao!

 

42 Sunrise

A new play?  Movie?  Mixed drink?  Nope, none of these.  This was the temperature this morning when I went out for my run.  And wouldn't you know it...I see the sun RISING each morning now, too.  So beautiful!  It has been super windy here...so who really knows how cold it actually was.  I was shivering for at least the first mile.  brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!  But once I get going it is so hot and the cool air feels really good.  Now you must know I am so not a morning person!!!  I HATE HATE HATE getting out of bed with a passion.  It's so warm under the covers and the second they come off it is COLD!  I'm fine after a few minutes...it's just the initial shock is all.  On my route is this really small donut shoppe.  Because it was so windy, the smell of fresh donuts cooking had drifted several blocks.  All I could do was roll my eyes and inhale a big deep breath, and pray I didn't gain 3 lbs. just smelling those good treats!  I'm not really a donut person...haven't had one is YEARS!  But oh the smell is sooooooooo inticing!  This weekend was all about tracking for me and although I am almost at my goal I still have a long ways to go.  I will be running a half marathon in just 2 weeks to see where I am at with my time.  Wish me luck!

As if I don't have enough to do I am signed up for a class taught by Cathy Zielske called Design Your Life.  This scrapbooker woman is amazing.  I gotta tell ya...I lurve her so much!  She is the bomb when it comes to designing a scrapbook page.  I'm learning alot already and some info is coming back to mind from my brainiac days.  :)
Here is my layout from the weeks prior to class starting.  I'm digging into my stash and using up some older products that I love!!  So satisfying!  This is some older BG INFUSE paper...love all the pink, green and brown!  Week 1 and 2 have already passed by and I have yet to get my layouts photographed.  I will post them when I have them ready.

Until then, have a great week!  Ciao!

been a while.

I've been a bad blogger...neglecting updates and new images.  I have been soooooooooooo busy!!  But, I have so much to share so let's start with this little journal I altered.

I used a couple of kits and combined products.  Kinda fun esp. when they are running low.  :)  I rubbed some pink chalk ink over the letters (thanks Michele) to make them pink (listen up MM...we need these exact letters in COLORS!)  I didn't put an end year on the bottom since I dont know how long I will have it. 

Remember my BIG project I mentioned?....a few posts back??  Well, it's happening!  I've been putting this together for months!  I'm really excited about it and I'm sure all you CARD MAKERS out there will be too!!  I've got lots planned for Cupcards {to go} so keep your eyes peeled on that site for all the updates.  :)

Ciao for now!

New Wheelchair!

AT LAST!!  Bay's new wheelchair arrived yesterday!  Woooooohooooooooo!!  It looks like the same color as her old chair but outside in the sun it's a bit more purpley-pink.  You can tell a little bit better in the photos.  She is already getting the hang of pushing herself around!  OMGOSH!  I wish you all could have seen her....after I put her in the chair, buckled her in...off she went all around the classroom!  (she is growing up too darn fast I tell ya!)  I didn't even have to tell her or remind her what to do....she just grabbed the wheels and started rollin!  She's still getting the hang of letting go, going back the top of the wheel and pushing again....and also stopping.  LOL!

Yesterday!

Today, practicing during recess.  (she doesn't always watch where she is going.)

Ciao!

Sept SL Sketch

Here's my sketch for this month's Scarlet Lime Newsletter.  Pretty simple with a little glamour at the bottom.  :)  I would love to see your cards and include them here on my blog so please let me know if you use one of my card sketches.  THANKS and happy creating!

 

weekend wedding.

Down to Monterey we went...last Friday...for the wedding of our cousin (hubs side).  It was very glamorous and high society.  Pretty and elegant.  I wish I had more pics to share but the reception was at night in a ballroom with very little lighting (something about ambiance).  I've never been to a wedding like this so it was definitely a different experience for me.  Enjoy the pics (click image to see larger.)

place setting.  I've never seen so much silverware (and glasses) at once place setting in my whole life.  :O

cake.  now this impressed me so much!  All those photos there are of Gparents who have since passed.  SO SO AWESOME!  The cake was DELISH too....lemon custard (like the filling of a lemon meringue pie) in between layers of lemon cake...3 LAYERS!

bride dancing.  i put this picture here so you could see her dress.  wow wee was it gorgeous.  beads and diamonds all over including the veil.  you have to click the image to see it really well.  that's mom of the bride with her back to us dancing with the man.

Me and Bay all dressed up in our velvet and lace.  Hubs took her out on the dance floor and danced with her.  it was soooooooooo stinkin sweet.  SIL got pics tho so they are on her camera...gotta grab those later.

the place we stayed, which was part of a house rented by the SIL.  it's basically a studio apartment size....ya....waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too small for 3 people, one of those being in a WHEELCHAIR!  Notice there are only TWO beds?  And no couch!  That's the kitchen-ette across from the bathroom and standing shower.

  Hubs took this photo of us through the glass from outside...see his reflection?  Love it because you can see the ocean in the reflection also.  SO COOL!  These windows are in the living room of the house portion.

Deer roam the streets of Pacific Grove.  It's strange to me (b/c here we have cats that roam the neighborhood) but to the PG'ns it's normal.  They are pretty friendly too.  We caught this right when we were driving up to the main street before going to the house.

One last thing for all my scrapper friends who will understand my reasoning.  We stopped at this little shop under a restaurant where we had breakfast.  So quaint and TONS of stuff I wanted for the new house.  (gotta wait tho.)  Anways, see that cute little green stand there next to the white shelves?  OMGOSH I wanted it so badly!!  Can't you just see that in my studio filled to the rim with wooden stamps?  ACK!  It was heartbreaking walking outta there without it.  sniff.  I got lots of ideas from that store...and even found an old dresser that I wanted but it was quite the price lemme tell ya.  ;)

Thanks for looking at the pics.  Hopefully I didn't bore you too much.  I wish I could say we had a great time but the truth is we didn't.  However, it was nice.  We needed a larger place to stay and better weather....cold, wet and cloudy is not very adventuresome.  Some other day we will go back on our own schedule.  :)

Ciao!

computer help.

School's in full swing and the kids are having a ton of fun!  All kinds of things going on throughout the day. 

I thought this was just too cute!  Yesterday the kids were working on the computer (2 each, we dont have enough for all of them to have their own so they take turns) and the little girl next to Bay was helping her hand over hand.  Now...usually this is what I do but since there really wasn't any room for me to sit next to her on either side I let her friend do it.  Isn't it soo adorable??????!  I grabbed the camera right away after I saw it.  :)

I also want to take a moment to remember what today is all about.  Let us not forget what happened 7 years ago....how our country was affected and the war that continues even today.  I'm proud to be an American and married to an Army officer.  God Bless America!

Ciao!

fair is over, school has started.

where did summer go?  Seriously!  I want to know!  10 weeks out of school went by waaaay too fast.  But we enjoyed every minute of it doing all kinds of fun things we don't normally get to do.

This was the highlight of working the state fair for Duane (in tan).  He wanted a pic with Jessica Simpson so bad.  (whatever!  eyeroll.  haha)  That's his partner (in white) on the other side of Jessica.  It must be so cool to see the entertainers backstage all the time.  Bay and I did get to see Natasha Bedingfield but no pics to share.  sniff.  (she was REALLY good too!)

So the fair is over and now it's back to school...every day.  Up at 630 in the morning.  Let me just say I am so not a morning person unless I have a *reason* to get up....i.e. an expo or sb class or event.  LOL!  I will, however, get up to run b/c it's cooler but that's about it.  I loved sleeping in till 7 or later every day.

Thought I'd share a pic of Bay on her first day.  This was taken on the playground...you can see a bit of the back of the classroom there (the brick wall.)  I usually stop and take her pic by preschool b/c we walk by it every morning on our way to class from the bus.  But this year I wanted her last first-day photo to be somewhere else on campus.  Can you believe this child is in 6th grade??  SIXTH!!!  Yes, I said siiiiiiiiiiiiiixth!  I know...I'm about to faint too!  And see her shoulders going up past the back of her wheelchair?  I'd say she grew just a little.  (her new chair is on order.)  I tease all the time that the countdown to school being out is ON!!  177 days from today to be exact.  hee hee  Can you tell I am just as anxious for her to be homeschooled as she is??  It's going to be a good year.  She has the same teacher as last year, who is really great!

In other news:
*I cut my running time down to 10.5 min./mi.  I was so seriously excited!  I would really like it to be more in the 9-10 min. range...gotta keep plugging away.  That marathon will be here before I know it.
*I also took my entire scrapspace apart and put it all back together.  I love how it is now....all organized and I can find everything I need.  Ya know what...I have a TON of stamps.  wow....dont really realize how many i have until I start gathering them up in baskets.  I really need a shelf to put them on.  Soon...after I'm in my studio.  I went thru my older kits too and I'm down to 2 baskets at my table.  I know, crazy huh?  At least now I can create better and find everything!
*We finally got a real web domain name for the house blog.  It will be so much easier to remember (and type).  It's www.adreamforbaylee.com So if you don't have it bookmarked make sure you do.  We're hoping all these loose ends will be tied up and we can get this project started at last!!
*I've been tagged and nominated and awarded by a bunch of sweet ladies.  Keep meaning to post about it.  Thank you girls for doing that.  I'll get mine up soon.  Right now I have to go wake a very sleepy girl from her nap so she will go to bed on time tonight, just to get up tomorrow and do it all over again.  Ahhhhhh the life of a 6th grader.  Are you smarter than a 5th grader?  I'd like to think I am now.  bwaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaa

Ciao! 

comparison

Bay got to ride Poncho again this week.  What a difference!  He is huge compared to little ole Blake last week.  Check her out with her instructor, Kim, and side-walker, Jeanne.  Marissa is the other side walker who is ducked down behind Poncho.  See her legs?  She is so silly.   

I decided to play around with the photo in photoshop and bring some new life to it's edges.  Not bad for my first try.  :)

Bay starts school next Tuesday, day after Labor Day.  I am really sad about it!  :( :( :(  I have really enjoyed having the ENTIRE summer off.  We've been able to do all kinds of things like take morning walks, see friends, go shopping, spend time at the park, visit with my sis, go to the state fair, mostly things outdoors I guess.  Something we don't get to do much of but have to take advantage of the morning hours here before it gets too hot!

I wish I had some projects to show you today but truth is I don't.  I've been working on a BIG project and it's taking alot of my time.  But it's so worth it!  I can't wait to show everyone.  Soon....very soon!  I should have some DT kits showing up any day now so that will keep me busy.  :)

Ciao for now!

pony.

Baylee got to ride a pony last week at her lesson.  His name is Blake.  And I thought she looked big on a full size horse.  OMGOSH!!  Her feet go past the saddle and gerth on this little horse.  ACK!  She is growing up too darn fast!

Ciao!

August SL sketch

This month's Scarlet Lime sketch is really simple!  I had fun with this one and decided to show everyone how easy it is to use the sketch for not only a simple card but also a layout!  WOOOHOOO!!  I hope you'll jump in and give it a try.  Dont forget to upload yours to the FLICKR gallery so everyone can see.  :)

Here I flipped the sketch to create a simple layout.

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I'd also like to share some cards that others have made using the SL sketches.  Thank you ladies for letting me know you used them.  Makes my day!  :)

Using Sketch 1:

By Gretchen Schmidt.

By Kim Faucher.

Aug. Lime Tart Designs

I meant to put these up the other day.  Oops.  Here they are using the deeeeelicious Aug Lime Tart full tart Kit.  I love with this Mira line by K&Co.  Such bright and pretty colors.  I am in the middle of a MR chipboard mini album using all the leftovers from this kit.  It's many pages tho so I'll post it later.  You can get your kit here in Johanna's store if you are in the US.

I love how this layout turned out.  I always want Bay to try to do things even if she can't accomplish them on her own (and she needs my help.)  This whole layout is about her aiming high for the goal.  Lots of white space here.  And my journaling on the back.

First painted the SR chipboard butterfly with 3 layers of cranberry paint and let dry for several hours.  Added a portion of the BG rubon and outlined with a gold leaf pen.  Then I added the Doodlebug jewels and MM alphas.  Oh...and that HAMBLY music transparency doesn't come in the kit.

More pics from around here while we are taking our walks.  (similar to the layout below using the PP kit)

Added more rubons to the ghost butterfly.

Bay in the spider at therapy.  This layout was just fun to do and make the photos in b&w, something I dont do often enough.  Cutting out the swirls took forever.

Ranger stickles added to the butterfly wings.

Isn't that old lamp cool??  The image is from an older Anthropologie catalog.  Also used a sketch by Janelle over at Sketch This.

These beaded embellishments/brads are made by K&Co. to match the paper line. 

Well that's all for now.  Hope you have a great day!  Ciao!

Horseland.

Thought I'd share the layout I did for GOT SKETCH this week.  So fun using some items I've saved for so long.  That *horseland* tag is from some of Bay's clothing....I knew it would come in handy one of these days.  LOL!  All supplies are from the June Scarlet Lime Kit, except the Melissa Frances journaling stamp and the 7gyp harlequin gaffer.  Click the image to see a larger view...i dont know why it's showing up so small here.  weird.

Have a great day!  We're off to the state fair to see the fireworks!  YIPPY!!!!

Ciao!

Aug. PP Designs

Have you seen this kit yet?  Of course you have!  What was I thinking.  It's just a few posts below this one.  Anyways, I hope you were able to grab one for yourself.  It's packed full of such pretty colors and fun embellishments.

Just a few pics I took of Bay outside on the porch.  She is looking so big to me lately.  ACK!  Sometimes I even get that *I'm such a sneaky little red-head* look.  tee hee  The stamps are from Autumn Leaves.

Photos taken while we were on our walk.  Click the image to see a larger view and the journaling.  It's so pretty around here when all the flowers are blooming.  :)  That grid paper is from October Afternoon.  I just swiped some Lil Davis green paint on it.

For Bay's room.  I actually have 2 more *bugs* that aren't done yet.  I'm sure you'll get a view of them with another upcoming kit.  ;)  Eventually she'll have them all on the wall.

Ok this card was FUN!  I was trying to come up with something clever for those "just the edges" from Bazzill.  Clever enough?  I like how it turned out.  The sentiment spot is from Elle's Studio.

I have a bunch more to share but I'll save them for another post.  Have a great day!  Ciao!

back from Expo.

So fun!  And exhausting!  At the same time!  How can that be??  The Santa Clara Expo was last weekend.  I had the largest number of students in my morning card class.  That seemed to be VERY popular!!  YAY!  I'm thinking I may have to offer more.  On Friday night, Michele and I had dinner with Patti and Diana from Scrap for a Cure.  Very cool to visit with them a little bit more this time around.  We were laughing and telling stories the whole time. 

Thought I'd share a quick layout I did with the photos at last Expo's dinner (in Pleasanton) and the May Scarlet Lime Mini Kit.  All the Scrap for a Cure girls are in the aqua blue shirts.  :)   

Anyways, it was fun!  Looking forward to October!  Ciao!

after the show.

All is can say is WOW!  Seriously!  This was the best live MUSICAL show I've been to (so far)!!  This, of course, indicates that I will be attending more!  LOL!   It's prohibited to take pics during the show so don't have any of those to share.  :(  I know, sad huh??  I couldn't even be sneaky b/c the ladies at the door sat right behind us.  But here's a couple of pics I grabbed from the internet.  I'm showing you photos of the actress who played Eliza Doolittle (Kate Baldwin) and the actor who played Henry Higgins (Richard B. Watson).  They both did an EXCELLENT job!  At times I couldn't even tell they weren't Audrey and Rex.   

Ok now for some pics I took.  These aren't very good btw.  Ya know...flash off...at the mercy of the good ole outstretched arm.  ugh.  oh well.  it's the memory right?

Right before it started.  Look at all the people!  The theater was packed!!  (I'm seeing Bay needs her bangs trimmed!)  Oh and lucky us...it just so happened to be OPENING night!  FANTASTIC!

The ROUND Stage.  This scene is of Henry Higgins' study.....the place where all those phonographs are for Eliza to listen too and practice, and practice, and practice...........cup, cup, cup, cup, of, of, of, of, cup, cup, cup, cup, of, of, of, of, cup, cup, cup, cup, of, of, of, of.....  tee hee

Intermission, after 1 hr. and 45 minutes!!!!!!!!!  Our butts were numb! 

me and the hubs.  yucky blurry pic. 

After the show we took some pics outside with all the lights.  so pretty!!

Our door was the one on the far right!

Us by the poster.  Had to take it but darn it was so dark.  My pants are in serious need of an iron!  And it got COLD!  Good thing I brought our sweaters.  This was about 11:15pm.  It was a 3 hr. SHOW!

The famous poster that we were standing in front of!!

FABULOUS NIGHT!!  :) :) :)  I'm still singing all the songs!

Today's the day!

Finally.  At last.  I get to go see My Fair Lady!!  Nothing like getting a birthday present and having to WAIT for it!!!!!!!  I'm sooooooooo excited!  Who wouldn't be!?  I'll be singing all the songs...Poor Professor Higgins, Get me to the Church, The Rain in Spain, Wouldn't it be Loverly, Just you Wait, I could have danced all night, etc etc.......love them all!!   I'm getting the soundtrack!  :)  I'll be sure to share some pics from the evening! 

Ciao!

play time.

It's a gorgeous day here!!  Getting a bit hot but nothing we can't handle.  I finally have a chance to post some projects I've been working on.  This layout and card are both from the new MM Hullabaloo collection only available at Target.  It's so adorable and colorful I just had to have some!!  These projects took me weeks to finish because I decided to be amitious and work on them while I was so sick a few weeks ago.  Geesh!  What was I thinking?  So here they are. (click image to see journaling)  As soon as I find a cute little spider I'm going to put it under the title.  Oh and just so you know...Bay is fine.  :)  Ciao!




 

August Paper Posies Kit!

I cannot get over how pretty this kit is!!  Full of all kinds of spring and summer-y goodness...and then of course there's a little PINK!  tee hee  Love my pink!  I'm not sure what I want to do with that wooden tea box yet.  hmmmmmmmm gotta think about it.  Got any ideas?  This kit is full of butterflies too....LOTS AND LOTS OF BUTTERFLIES!!!!  Did you get one yet?

Check out the PP Blog for some DT Design peeks!   Ciao!

Challenge

This month I'm posting a challenge using the half tart Lime Tart July Kit.  When I saw this art piece I knew it would be perfect for this kit.  (thanks Mel for your help.  ;)  )  The colors matched and that huge moon was calling me to use some of the BIG white flowers included in the kit. 

So here's your challenge!  Be inspired by this image to create your own layout!  I can't wait to see what you come up with!  Make sure to link up in the comments section.

Here's mine!  Have a great weekend!
Ciao!