Beyonce who???

Apparently my little girl is quite the boogie machine :)
Beyonce ain't got nothing on her ;)

News from the land of chaos

I say chaos, because that is how I feel my life is right now. I guess I will just go down the list and update you.

I have been asked to teach Kindergarten at a school I had never been to before. I accepted the position, and we aren't sure if the current teacher will be returning mid-year or if she will be out the full year. This leaves me with so many doubts. How much time, effort, energy, money etc., should I pour into this classroom knowing that I may only be there for a short time. Well, after mulling it over a few days, I decided that I am putting my all into it. At the worst, they will tell me at the end of September that she is coming back. Then I will pack up my belongings, and motor on. But until then, I am proceeding as though this is my classroom. I have already moved the furniture around, decorated and started to meet with the kids and parents. So for right now, it's my room. If she returns, I will have at least given these kids my all for the time I was there, and that is what they need (especially after having met some of them).

So, I am very excited... school officially starts for Kindergarten on Thursday! I have meetings with parents until then.

Madelyn will be starting pre-school this year. We really pondered whether or not she was ready, but we are going for it. She needs to be with kids her own age more, and that was the driving force behind the final decision. It is only three half days a week, but I know she will love it and is already very excited about it!

Lauren decided to get sick my first week of working at the school. She has been running a fever for two days now, and although I am glad it happened on the weekend, it has really worn me out. She is very clingy and just wants to lay on you all day and all night. Poor baby. You can see it in her face, she just doesn't feel good :( There is no feeling like the helplessness you feel when your baby is sick. I remember it all too well from Madelyn. Luckily, my kids don't get sick too often.

I am blessed that way, and hoping it stays that way.

We were supposed to go to a concert last night and didn't make it because I just couldn't bear to leave her. I told Mike to take the tickets and go, but he didn't want to go without me... so here we both sat with our sick baby and poor MJ watching Peter Pan! It sucks because now that Mike's schedule has adjusted and he is off Fridays and Saturdays, he is finally able to do stuff! Concerts, weddings, parties, cookouts.... fairs, carnivals, get togethers with our friends! They all happen on the weekends, and we weren't able to go for so long! This was the first time in a LONG time Mike and I were going to a concert together, and it just wasn't meant to be. We got Wendy's and Dairy Queen instead :)

I am designing two new kits right now, and I am very excited about them. Still have news about my designs up my sleeve that will be let out soon, but I need to keep it under wraps for a little while longer. Hoping to do some scrapping of my own tonite, to kind of wind down from the sickness.

Madelyn's playground is finally finished! We have a deck to build still, but that is the last of it. Here is a picture of how it turned out. Lots of blood and sweat went into the preparation of this baby... but soooo worth it. She loves it !!! Today we erected her PIRATE GIRL flag! You can see it in the second picture!

So, that's the news from the land of chaos.... trying to hold it all together until everything winds down. It will... it always does!

Closing my Divine Shop and some layouts

Well, I have decided to close up my Divine shop, and I have put my resignation in over there. I just don't frequent the site as often as I should, and I know that I need to do that to make my shop as successful as I want it to be.

I have something new up my sleeve but I can't really talk about it yet.

So, for now I am going through my kits one-by-one and revamping then , adding elements and papers, or retiring them. It is hard to go through your older work because you see things as your tastes change that you don't like anymore, or as you learn new techniques, the old ones don't look as good as they once did.

So, keep your eyes pealed for some new and improved stuff from me :) I will be releasing some blog freebies soon too over on the Steel City Scraps blog. I will miss being at Divine for the Ingredients Challenge (which I may still do on my design blog) -- and being with the wonderful friends I have over there.

I have a new Creative Team that is kicking bootie -- some girls have stuck with me from the jump and I ADORE THEM both for their layouts, but moreso for their friendship and support. I also have some new girls who are busting out some incredible layouts - and I would love for you to drop over the CT blog and leave them some love! You can check it out here: CITY GIRLS BLOG.

But, ah, what the future holds...............

On that note: you guys know I am on a few CT's now -- and loving it because it forces me to allot some scrap time in my life --- which I so desperately need!!

So here are some of my latest layouts ---

I created this self-portrait for a Duchess Designs blog challenge last week - I used her Girlfriends: Kathryne kit for this one. Take a good look because you won't see me scrapping a picture of myself for awhile.

SELF-PORTRAIT

The next one was also for the Duchess -- her latest Girlfriends: Peyton -- I love these peach colors!

SUGAR AND SPICE

I did these next two for Danielle Corbitt's featured kit of the week Just a Lil Flirt - this is huge! and it is such a very cute kit! I could have made more layouts with it -- and probably will.

TREAT THAT'S SWEET

For this one I also used her Wrapped in Floral Frames -- really cute !

DADDY AND LAUREN

Lastly, I did two more for Danielle Corbitt using her Backyard Blast kit. This one has a ton of summery elements!

LAZY DAYS OF SUMMER

PUPPET SHOW

Thanks for looking :) Feel free to drop over to my Digital Candy gallery and leave me some lovin :)

Crazy busy ...

I am not complaining at all --- we have just been so busy this summer. We have had a ton of fun in the meantime, and so it was all worth it. I am not making excuses for my posts being, well, non-personal --- but I will try to do better from now.

So, if you remember correctly, last summer I was basically pregnant and miserable for the first two/thirds of the summer. I pretty much prayed the entire summer away so that I would be done being pregnant. For those who don't know --- it's hard being pregnant in the summer with a two year old wanting to do everything!!! Then, when I had Lauren I was a recluse just loving on her and getting used to being a mommy of two.

By the time I woke up from that daze, summer was over and we had done basically nothing. I was so angry all winter that I felt like I was jipped out of summer --- I whined alot about it truly!

So, this summer it was ON!

Not intentionally, but alot of things came up this summer. My good friend got married in Hilton Head.... and so we went down for that. Long drive, but an amazing time with my amazing friends. We had so much fun. We learned Madelyn was a fish in a former life, and has NO fear of water!

Then, we took our trek to our normal summertime hang - Geneva on the Lake. I was there for a few weeks, and got to meet up with Heather a few times. It was so nice to spend time with another mommy with a baby Lauren's age. Rhiannon was so sweet to MJ and I just had a ball with them!

My in laws were then gracious enough to invite us to go to Myrtle Beach with them, and we gladly took them up on it. We had an amazing condo overlooking the beautiful waters, and we had an incredible time. Very relaxing, and laid back --- just like we like it!

Then I went back to the lake for a few days --- it wasn't long enough, but it was nice to have the closure of going back to pack up the cottage. I miss the cottage so much in the winter, if it had a furnace I would probably go there and just sit --- because there is nothing to do there in the winter at all! I would still love it. I just like being there!

We are getting ready to close the summer out by heading up to Erie to spend some time with some buds who have babes the same age as MJ. We have known each other (most) since they were born and so we try to travel each year to visit. We are from all over the states and Canada, so its not possible for everyone to make it every year, but we sure try. I didn't get to go last year because Lauren was only a few days old when they left to meet up in Niagara Falls. This year it is in my homestate -- so you couldn't keep me away. Even though I will only be there for a day or two, it will still be nice to catch up with my buds and see all the kids together. I love that part!

Then, it will be getting ready for the school year to start!

So, here are some kid recaps :

Lauren is walking, wobbly but walking --- she says daddy and only daddy. She loves her mama but just WILL NOT say it! She is such a delight, has a wonderful personality and is really cute with her big ol' gap between her two front teeth! I later I will be cursing it, but for now it is just adorable !!!

Madelyn is FINALLY potty trained --- PRAISE JESUS!!! She is just as bubbly, social and talkative as ever. She never stops from the time she wakes until she is sleeping in her bed... talking, talking, talking. She loves everyone --- and just wants to be everyone's best friend! So funny!

Mike has finally moved to a schedule that allows him off Friday and Saturday each week --- so we finally HAVE A LIFE! We can go to weddings, go out and have a drink on a Friday night--- we couldn't be more excited about this! We can go catch a movie and get a sitter (not a school night). Wow, I better make a list of things we are going to do !

As for me, I am getting ready to sub again in the Fall. Hopeful that something long term will come my way early on, and I can complete a school year in one classroom. I am still teaching computers at the community college -- and I really love that. Also, I am supposed to go back to coaching the dance team this fall. My sister and I coached together for two years until I started having kids. Then she did it by herself. Now that she has moved to Texas, they needed a coach and asked me. Well, I am not sure ASKED is the right word to use. I am not sure how I feel about that yet. I guess it depends on how that falls in with everything else I have going on--- it will either be awesome or a pain. Not sure about that yet.

So I will post some pics from Erie after the weekend is over. Sorry for the catch up post. I hate that I had to do that... but I also don't want a blog just of pictures and no stories!

Here are some layouts I did yesterday for The Duchess using her new Girlfriends: Makenzie mini kit! I love these mini's --- they are very inexpensive and have enough inside for a few adorable layouts!!!

Some news..........

No, no, no.... I am not pregnant!

I have been invited to be a CT member for Duchess Designs, and an August guest for Danielle

Corbitt!!! How exciting!

I am working on some layouts today for both of them :)

It occured to me that I haven't posted many layouts lately, and I so here are a few!
Birthday pictures later, I promise!!!

(Credits) Sadie's Garden by Beckie Wallace

(Credits) - Amy Sumrall's Over the Grungy Rainbow Kit

(Credits) - Corina Neilsen - Live Out Loud

(Credits) Danielle Corbitt's Starz Kit

(Credits) - Brownie Scraps' Sun Kissed

LIVE from MYRTLE BEACH---- it's us!

Hey there, hi there, ho there---- thought I would upload some pics from our Myrtle Beach VAY KAY!!! Enjoy!

Kyle giving MJ a Skim board lesson--- she didn't do too bad!

Ripley's Aquarium! Look out!

Lauren and MJ enjoying the fishies :)

Lauren watching MJ on the Merry-go-Round!

MJ went CRAZY for these little cars, and begged to ride them twice :)

Some Layouts ....

Here is the first scrapping I did in a LONG LONG TIME. It was so fun, and it really is my first true love. I do love taking the time out of designing to scrap ! I need to do it more :)

The good news is that Christie and I partnered up for the Birthday Race over at Digital Candy, so my scrapping fix will be met ;)

This one is called Forever Sisters and it is made with Beckie Wallace's AWESOME kit called At the Ballet - it is available now EXCLUSIVELY at Digital Candy - ELEMENTS and PAPERS.

Here is one I did for the Candy Jar Challenge over at Digital Candy!

It's done with an old pic of MJ and you can see the CREDITS HERE.
Here is one I did for the Scraplift Challenge over at Sunshine Studio!

It's called - SWEETHEART and you can see the CREDITS HERE Last is one where Christie forwarded me a blog featuring this free template! It is amazing ;)

You can check out Lauren and the CREDITS HERE.
SOOO FUN!

Wondering where I've been?

I have been like a chicken with it's head cut off! I now have an amazing Creative Team in the works, and my boutique at Divine Digital is up and running.

I have another store in the works - more information to follow on that :)

Other than that, the girls' had their appointments this morning. Still have the vaginal adhesions which make me want to jump off a cliff. We are going to be more proactive though about opening them now. We begin a topical antibiotic with an estrogen creat twice a day. Hopefully this will work because if there is no change, I have to take them both back in six weeks, and possibly to go a specialist :( Luckily, we have an AMAZING doctor whom I trust !

Both girls are in the 90th percentile for height and the 50th for weight- growing great !!

I have been subbing, and I just finished up the job corps orientation, which was amazing as usual. So, I have alot going on right now.

We are starting to gear up for Mike to NOT WORK MIDNIGHTS !!! I am so tired of midnights. But luckily, he is looking at a really great schedule as soon as the new guy is trained. He will FINALLY BE OFF FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS! That means we can finally have a real life :) He can go to weddings, birthdays and we won't have to worry about his schedule interferring with our weekend plans anymore. I am SOOOOOO looking forward to this.

We also have a few vacations this summer that we are looking forward to. A friend is getting married in Hilton Head in a few short weeks, and we are SO STOKED!

That's about all for now... will check it later :)

Lauren finds her shadow

Well, I don't know about you but I am LOOOOVIN this beautiful weather we are having right now. It truly couldn't be more perfect! I started opening the door to let the spring air in and Lauren loves to sit in my full length glass door and watch cars, people, birds and mostly the school buses (there is a school on my street).

LOL, how funny! Anyway - we are outside enjoying ourselves. Will post more later ;)

Lauren on Easter

Maddie put these bunny ears on Lauren and I kept waiting for the wailing to come - but it didn't. She actually liked having them on.

You know I have a camera permanently attached to my hand, so check out the faces!

Credits: Beckie Wallace's Burst of Spring kit. Font: CK Toehead

New Beckie Wallace kit - KISMET

Gotta love this new kit by Beckie Wallace who, by the way, has TWO NEW STORES! She has her shoppe at Stone Accents Studio, and we are currently celebrating her Grand Opening over at Digital Candy as well!

Kismet is brand new, and in both stores so check it out now! It is currently on sale at both stores so be sure to hustle to get it if you are interested.

Here is my new layout using the kit - called DREAMS. Which I just love this picture, well for many reasons. I had just gotten them bathed and dressed for bed. I put Lauren next to MJ on the chair and MJ immediately went for her hand. They were watching Backyardigans, so they were in their regular trance - they just held their hands up in the air. So long, in fact, I had time to run and get the camera - and there they still were holding their hands up like they were doing some kind of Renaissance dance! Love it!

My baby's blues

We all have hazel eyes: me, Mike and MJ. I am really hoping that Lauren keeps this incredible shade of blue eyes that she is sporting! I suppose I could go to some genetics probablility website and it will tell me that its not likely - but I ain't hearing it right now :)

Here is a layout I did today to showcase these amazing baby blues! I used Blueberry Cream kit by Sophisticated Scraps. Fonts are LD Charlie Clown and LD Italic.

My rambling...

Ok, well it has been an eventful week in our house. First off, Lauren now has FOUR - yes, you read correctly - FOUR teeth. Two on the bottom and two on the top ! Holy crap. She is pretty pleasant but slobbering like crazy! She is also up on all fours and rocking. I think its absolutely hysterical that she doesn't sit on her own unassisted for more than a minute, but she is going to be crawling around within the next few weeks. She really gets going! I will see if I can get a video of it today, but here is a picture :)

On to Madelyn... well, we had a visitor on Sunday night - the 'dinky' fairy came to take her 'dinkies' away. We left the dinkies for her on the table and she took them, and left a present for MJ! She was excited for the present, but cried for the dinkies for over an hour. She actually said to me at one point, "Call her and tell her to BRING THEM BACK!" - then random waking up in the night crying and screaming for them!

Talk about a trauma! If you know me in real life, you know I DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE HER A PACIFIER FROM THE JUMP. But my doctor told me it has benefits, blah - blah - blah! I knew I should have tried to take it away before she turned two, but honestly - being pregnant, I was thinking about other things. I also thought how can I take it away, then introduce a new baby with one into our home. So, I put it off - mistake !!!! I should have just taken the damn thing away before she could tell me how much she loves it!

So the last few nights in our house have been ****H E L L**** Last night was a little better, but I think its because she took NO nap yesterday. Eh, lesson learned! Here are her last moments with the dinkies :)

Mike and I got to go out to dinner by ourselves Sunday night -which rarely happens. My mom watched the girls' and we got to eat a nice hot meal :)

Now the week has started and I am just trying to patiently wait for the QOTC winners to be announced :) I am working two days this week in addition to my evening classes ! So getting things prepared is taking some time also. But I am keeping busy, and thats a good thing :)

Queen of the Crop - Day three

Well I was able to finish - although I didn't see it happening. I will explain that in tomorrow's post.


And so I present my last of the QOTC layouts! Honestly, I can't believe I finished this challenge this weekend. 10 layouts??? That's insane! I also was able to keep the house in order, and get some shopping done - go out to dinner, and that is a feat! I am really proud!


Here they are:


The first layout was a scraplift challenge. That means you check out someone's gallery, find a layout that you like, and use it for inspiration to make your own layout. Sometimes these come really easily, and other times you get stuck. In this layout I used Shabby Princess's Vintage Florals, NewLife Dreams 2 Hearts kit and the alpha is from GoodBye to Summer by Mydigistyle.

The next one was to scrap a smile. I used Just for You Kit by NewLife Dreams, and a pink alpha by flergs.

The theme for the next one was 'Splish spash', make a layout with water! I decided to use Heather Roselli's Oceania kit and the frame is from Beckie Wallace's Snips and Snails kit.

The last one was themed 'Interview', in which I tried to actually interview Madelyn. Well, that was a joke. So I made a list of all her favorite things right now. In case your wondering, "Chocolate Bunny kind" refers to Nestle Chocolate milk with the bunny on the carton! I used Robin Carlton's Fancy Pants for this one.

Hot Chocolate

A while back, some designers from Moo Too Designs did a blog train give away and the theme was hot chocolate. I remember thinking at the time that I might have any use for the kits, but they were so cute I couldn't resist downloading them.

Well, when we had our snow day last Tuesday - I got the perfect pictures to use with the kits. I did a little 'pick and choose' between the kits, but they coordinated so well it was easy to mix and match what I wanted !

See credits below:

Credits: Kim's Chocolate Alpha - Kim's Scrappin

Got marshmallow sign -from Hot Chocolate kit by Terrell Sanzone

Cup paper- from Hot Chocolate Kit by Gloria ValVerde

Background paper, hot chocolate mug and swirl, and cardboard from Nancy Wilkins Scrappy Cats Hot Chocolate Kit.

Swirl pushpin- by Coralee Evans

Font used: Thumping

Just in time for the weekend...

Ok, my friend Kelly started a blog and immediately told her readers that she is guilty of the ... between sentence fragments. I AM SO GUILTY OF THAT TOO! I also use the occassional - instead of a comma! Why? Who the hell knows? It's actually ridiculous, as it's not like it takes less energy to make a , instead of an - . Ah, well, anyway... guess I ought to apologize as well, then.


Apparently, I am a blog pusher! A couple of my friends started blogs this week. I did strongly suggest that they blog, since I like the therapy - I thought they would do (damn, theres that - again). But hey, I guess it's cool to be a pusher now, because I love reading whats up with my buds! And their blogs look fabulous too - check them out on my BLOGS list on the right side of your screen !



So, just in time for the weekend, my sinuses are kicking my ass! I just took some nyquil sinus nighttime so I may start rambling any time now! Because I feel increasingly worse as the night wears on, I don't see any scrappin' happenin' tonite! Tomorrow perhaps!



Sorry that I don't have anything too exciting for you to look at tonite - let me see if I can come up with a funny video of Lauren or Madelyn for you .... hang on (damn, there are those ... !)

Snips N Snails

I realize I have no boys (yet - well, maybe ever!). But when Beckie Wallace showed us this new kit, and asked for some name suggestions... SNIPS N SNAILS came to mind. I was shocked and flattered that she liked it too! She actually had already started making some little critters to add as elements when I submitted my suggestion. We must be on the same wavelength, she and I!

So, I was stressing how I was going to use the kit because it was focused for a boy. It was like writers' block, except with scrapping. I was desperate to use it because I love the color pallette, but I didn't think I could scrap my girls with the elements.

Well, later that week she forwarded us a blank glue patch and that was all I needed. I knew that I could make a layout with the title in the glue and that would tie the whole thing together. I love the staple, and the paper bag elements in this kit. Really original and just fun to scrap with. So, without further adeiu - TUCKERED OUT!

Saturday's rant-o-rama

Well, yesterday was Madelyn's 2 and a half year appointment, and Lauren's six month appointment. Both have past those milestones already, but this is when we could get the appointments.

Let me start by explaining that from her very first appointment, Madelyn was diagnosed with having vaginal adhesions. This where the vagina is fused closed by a thin layer of skin.

Well, its genetic, and I had hoped that we would escape it with Lauren, but alas - she has them too. Actually even more so than Madelyn. Can I catch a break?

I questioned for a long time if this was somehow my fault, or something that I was doing wrong, but the doctors always assured me that it was, in fact, genetic. So again, with my questioning yesterday came the answer - it is genetic. I guess I just want reassured.

So, since Maddie was born we have seen a host of different physicians, all within the same practice, all who give us different things to do about it. The first doctor said it would correct itself, the second doctor - who is kind of old school, told us to let her soak every night in a warm bath and try to manually seperate it. Ok, we did - and and it closed back up.

The next doctor told us to use Premarin cream on it, and that the hormones would open it, but that we needed to be careful with how much we use because she could grow little boobs! Uh, right - her dad would never go for that one! I would put it on her, and I was always using so little out of fear her starting to bloom early, if you know what I mean? So, I don't think it did anything.

The next doctor told us we didn't have to use that, it would open on its own and that we were worrying needlessly.

Finally, last visit, the doctor told us to continue to use the Premarin. That it could cause infection.

Can you see why I am freaking out now that my second daughter also has it? To add insult to injury the doctor says that Lauren's are actually worse than Madelyn's.

During yesterday's appointment, I saw the new doctor in the practice. She is young and vibrant. I liked her immediately, and I began with my normal barrage of questions about why this is happening to them, and if there is something that I am doing to cause this. Again - it's genetic !

So, she said that I can just leave it alone! She said that since the girls' are not producing estrogen this early in life, because they have no need for it, they will just continue to close. This should correct itself, and that I don't need to worry about it at all. ((deep sigh of relief))

Ultimately it comes down to this... I hate putting creams on my daughters that might make them develop early. I know this drives my husband bananas... he hates talking about it, thinking about it or anything about it. As far as he is concerned, his is NEVER putting the cream on them and is probably hoping that they will stay closed until they are married !

So, my answer - I am going to stop agreeing to see whatever doctor is available when I need my appointment, and see ONE DOCTOR! I want ONE ANSWER, and them to stick to it!

Whew! Ok - glad that is out!

Sweet Dreams layout

I don't mind paying for my kits! Ask my pocketbook!

But, oh, do I love freebies! I get freebies notifications from many places, and I love it when something totally unique comes along. I get really bored of the same commercial templates being used, just recolored. So when I see something new, I get really excited.


I downloaded the moon and stars in the following layout today. They are by Barb Derkson and available on her blog ! How amazing are they. I honestly couldn't wait to use them! Then by a stroke of good luck, I happened upon the most perfect alpha to use with this layout, Silver Alpha by Flergs! Honestly, this is my favorite layout I have made in a while, and its so simple!


Thanks for the freebies you guys!

Happy Valentine's Day !

Happy Valentine's Day to the readers of my blog :) I hope you had a marvelous day.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Here is a picture of Madelyn enjoying her Valentine's Day cookie from Eat n Park!

And one of Lauren, although she can't enjoy the cookie she received, she was all bundled up to go to Eat n Park! But doesn't she look adorable in her Future Steeler's Cheerleader hat!