Our comings and goings . . .

dream street

have you checked out the blog lately?  if not make sure you do!  wow, the new lines are starting to go up:)  i'm so excited!  can't decide which is my favorite . . . although that halloween line is right up my alley.   

typewriter overkill and july sweet pea scraps

typewriter overkill - if there is such a thing i just might be doing it . . . lol!  it's always like that right, when you get a new toy and you just have to play with it lots and lots.  i'm sure it will end in a couple more weeks.  for now though i'm lovin' this.  it's so quick and easy to add journaling/dates to those little journaling spots that are so popular right now. 

i really put my typewriter to the test as i finished up my layouts for sweet pea scraps.  love the way they turned out and even more i LOVED this kit.  the perfect kit for all those summery pictures. 

this layout i typed random numbers around the outside border and then used it for the journaling and date. 

 

and this one i typed the journaling, date, and the quote i used on the top. 

 

 

and i started my husbands childhood photos.  he told me "it's about time".  he actually doesn't have many so it shouldn't take too long at all since he was the 4th of 5 kids.  a.k.a. less photos

isn't he so cute, just look at all that red hair!

 

snapshots of brandon and his sister on family vacation in 1987.

and lastly is my summer "in progress" album.  i put it together with a lot of random pattern papers from the kit as well as photo protectors and baseball card holders.  i will add photos and ephemera throughout the summer and by the time school start our summer will be all recorded:)  

front cover:  license plate was one of our finds at the antique store last summer.  also just a side note:  i stabalized all the pattern paper by first adhering it to chipboard sheets before gluing it to the license plate.  (mailbox letter, buttons, and felt car are from my stash)

 

back cover:

 

and a peek at some of the inside pages

i think it's been awhile

over a month . . . yikes!  i don't know where to even start.  i basically took a break.  break from scrapbooking (except sweet pea scraps), message boards, blogging.  less computer time and even less pictures.  what have i been up to then? 

family, turbo jam (i'm sooooo addicted!), finding and cooking new healthy foods, reading (lots and lots of reading), and trying to entertain one bored 7 year old.  since school got out the last week in may it's been lots and lots of long days home with my boy.  not that i'm complaining it's been nice to have him home again.  we've been taking weekly (sometimes semiweekly) trips to the library, going to the antique store, and have had a few lunch dates. 

today wes and i headed to 25th street in ogden for his 7 year photoshoot (holy crap, seven years!!!!).  i put it off until things calmed down a bit from birthdays and father's day business at work.  he was actually very cooporative and i ended up getting some great shots.  these two are my favorites form the day. 

 

 

i love that wall! 

and then we headed here

 

i'm not sure why he likes it so much, but wes is enthralled by antique stores.  sometimes i wonder if he has an old soul - whatever it is though he is one very special kid.  he loves looking at all the old cameras, liscense plates, kitchen utensils, and especially this little glass bird.

 

ever time we go to this particular store he always has to see if the bird is still there.  i would love to get it for him, but that price tag of $85 dollars is a little much. 

today while we were looking around i found a few typewriters tucked away in a back corner.  after looking at all of them i found one from the late 50's that was priced at only $29.  well it came home with me.  it is in really great condition and even better comes with it's own carrying case and even has part of the original owners manual in it.  the guy at the store gave me a weird look when i told him not only did i mean to actually use it, but that i was going to use it for scrapbooking.  lol!

when we got home you would have thought i was a little kid again feeding the paper through and typing my name over and over again. 

 

i'm so excited to use it on my next layout:)

well i'm still loosing weight.  a little slower now that i slacked on keeping track of my calories each day.  june is always a crazy month and really i was doing good just getting my exercise in each day.  i didn't make my birthday goal, but i was really ok with it since i was only a pound short at 49 pounds.  a week later i had lost 2 more pounds and i'm now 53 pounds down.  now that i've crossed that goal off i've written knew ones down and am also back to calorie tracking.  the weight loss journey continues. 

i'm going to try and be better.  i miss bloggin and keeping track of friends.  i just don't want to overwhelm myself now that i feel like i'm back in control.  off for now to finish up a few last minute things for sweet pea scraps.  i'll try and be back tomorrow to show my july projects. 

i have a collar bone?

ok weird post title and a weird thing to be exited about.  but i now have a collar bone that is surfacing.  lol!  always good to know you have one after all these years;) and on the weight loss topic i've now reached the big 4-0!  at this rate i think that goal i made back in january of loosing 50 pounds by my birthday (june 18) is going to be easily kept!

baseball season has officially started.  wes is playing coach pitch this year rather than t-ball.  and although it's hard for me to admit that he has moved on from t-ball i have to say i'm so glad for the move up.  coach pitch is so much more exciting to watch.  he had the chance to bat twice last night.  first time he hit the ball on the first pitch but then was tagged running to first.  the second time he made it on base and was able to make it around the whole field and scored a point for his team.  he was so excited!  next time for sure i'm going to be good and actually get the camera out.  i got caught up in the game and helping the dugout mom that i forgot to take pictures.  his next game is tomorrow.

so since we are rarely home this days with brandon and i both working overtime and being gone from home most of the weekend our little apartment is quite the cluttered mess.  it's amazing how being home long enough to grab something to eat and be out the door can lead to so many dishes just dropped in the sink.  and since i can't stand to cook in a dirty kitchen i best be gettin' to it and then i'm stealing some creative time this afternoon.  i'm soooo behind again.  i HATE being behind. 

pictionary man and tomato cages

always seems to be the most random things we pick up when we hang around walmart.  lol!  tonights adventure we picked up a couple of new games, some tomato cages for the garden, and a new toy for wes.  so much randomness that added up to a whole lot more than i was expecting to spend.  i can't be the only one that does that . . .

well i thought i would pop in.  i've been trying to keep my head above water and just keep the house running.  it's getting to be that time of the year again when spring fever calls and i'm outside more with the boys.  we are getting our garden area ready to go and i can't wait to get all the plants in the ground.  hopefully this year will go a little better than last.  i really sucked that one up . . . we also got a late start, but i really slacked off with the watering.  who knew you actually needed water to keep plants alive;)

a few weeks ago i mentioned my project for imaginisce using their new i-top tool.  the i-top is a tool that helps create custom brads.  the brads come in three different sizes.  the large size is the one i used for the picture magnets shown in the top picture and the initial brads are the smallest size.    

  

 

starting next week they are going to be showcasing some of the projects using the new tool on their website.  this new tool is very fun to use and really got my wheels turing of all the creative possibilites!   

hope everyone is having a wonderful week.  i'll be back shortly with some projects using the new may kit from sweet pea scraps!:)

progress

i went to the store today to pick up a few new clothing items.  i needed a couple more sports bras and decided on picking up a new jacket as well.  surprise, surprise it's smaller than i was guessing it would be.  always a good feeling.

i've been following la's blog.  she and i crossed paths on our scrapbook ventures a couple of years ago and haved stayed in touch.  with a little encouragement from her i decided to be brave and post some pictures.  they aren't pretty, but i can already see how far i've come.  the first picture was taken last september  . . . i just realized i never really did take a 'before' picture, but that is pretty close to what i looked like in january.  i have a couple of others from this same day and it makes me sad just looking at them i was so miserable!

the second picture was taken today.  that is my new jacket.  it fits, but is still a little more snug than i would ordinarily buy, but it should fit great in just a couple more weeks:)

my face and neck are smaller along with the arms and not that you can see them, but my legs are really starting to tone up.  one thing i wasn't expecting to loose so much of was the girls.  lol! 

  

as of today i'm 38 pounds down!

reconnecting

ever feel like you are living someone elses life.  things go by in a flash and try as you might you just can't seem to connect to things around you . . . yikes!  maybe i'm just getting older and the time that once seemed to drag by is flying at light speed.  we've had such busy, jam packed days of late.  when i finally have a moment to look around i see lots of lived in proof of it all.  piles of laundry, dishes, and the light dusting of much needed vacuuming.  

and deeper than that . . . i'm having a hard time wrapping my head around my new body and the different changes that brings on.  i'm always cold.  which if you know me is rather weird since i'm the one that is always hot.  i'm not use to clothes fitting me loosly that once were tight.  i have this mind set that i'm bigger than i really am . . . or that i need to hold onto my 'fat' clothes - 'just in case'.  i can't connect to the constant changes my body is going through.  i get use to being a certain size and then i loose more weight (believe me i'm not complaining!  lol!) and i have to step back again and look at what clothes will fit me now.  

i'm reconnecting with my family.  in many ways i wasn't around for the past 3 years.  brandon is still getting use to this as well.  he tries to remind me of things i use to do in the past . . . i'm trying to explain to him to leave the past in the past.   i can't change the decisions i made, but only move on and learn from all that has happened.  i was even reminded of why i really feel like stepping back from scrapbooking - over the weekend i crammed in a last minute project for imaginisce(they emailed me wednesday and wanted it fed exed by saturday!) that might be used for a good things utah spot again . . . glad those don't come around too often.

alright . . .enough 'deep' thoughts for today.  lol!  just things that are on my mind as of late.  i'll try and be better and maybe even share a picture or two.  took some way cute ones of wes and his friend over the weekend with there favorite activity - scooter racing. 

mama mia

yikes a case of the blog slackiness going on around here.  between not spending time on the computer and just sitting back and enjoying my spring break with the boys i just haven't gotten around to posting. 

we had a great weekend together.  brandon took thursday and friday off from work and we spent pretty much all weekend non stop.  friday brandon and i even got a date in while wes went to the zoo with his friend.  and saturday brought a get together with some of my high school friends.  it was so much fun sitting around talking about old times while the husbands played wii (thank goodness there was video games.  one of the fastest bonding for guys can be done over video games.  lol!)  and all the kids playing and getting to know each other.  crazy to think how much time has pasted since high school and how much has gone on in each others lives.

easter sunday brought the new scooter brought by the easter bunny and wes scrambling to get a quick ride in before church. 

now it's back to the norm . . . so hard after such a great weekend, of which i took no pictures.  lol!  yeah the scrapparazzi in me is dying a little i think.  the jury is still out on that decision. 

i do however need to record wes' current obsession.  the phrase 'mama mia'.  he repeats it after almost everything he says and often as a response to a question.

me:  wes would you like to have noodles or a sandwich for lunch?

wes:  mama mia

------

me:  wes can you please pick up your shoes and socks.

wes:  mama mia!

-------

me:  it's time to go, you need to hurry!

wes:  mama mia!

can i tell you i'm so sick of hearing it!  not only that but it seems it's starting to rub off onto his friend and other kids at school . . . 

euphoria (well almost)

euphoria always comes after a really good workout!  i did over an hour today, not something i usually do, but oh it feels so good.  just won't be taking a picture of that any time soon . . . it's pretty scary.  it's amazing how much sweat can pour from my pores;)  so funny story (well it is now that i can look back on it.  lol!):  on saturday i didn't get my workout in until the middle of the afternoon when everyone was around.  a tad bit annoying when exercise has really become MY time.  i just pop in the DVD and get my groove on.  anyway . . . wes had his friends over to play and soon after i had soaked through my tank top i looked over to see them standing in the door way.  all three with these odd experessions on their faces and then one of his friends asked, "what are you doing?"  i was so annoyed that they were even looking at me let alone talking to me and sarcastically said, "what does it look like i'm doing?"  yeah, not one of my prouder moments in life.  i realized that early mornings will just have to be the time.  i can't have three 6 year old just staring at me when i'm sweating like a pig.  oye!  what they must have told their mothers when they got home. 

this week as flown by in a haze.  wes is home for spring break and brandon took a 4 day weekend which has made this week seem so incredibly short.  good in a sense, but i feel like i've accomplished nothing.  my creative adventures have consisted of me relaxing on the couch doing some cross stitch at night.  i've been so sore (amped up my weights this week) that by the time dinner is over all i want to do is chill until bed time.  not that my scrap table hasn't screamed for some attention, but i just haven't found it in me to go over and play.  which is never a good sign when i do have things that need to get done . . . yikes! . . . where is that balance when i need it?

so very excited the boys are home for a long weekend, even better it's easter weekend:) 

life never stands still

not that i would ever want it to;)  but when you don't have a computer or phone for a couple of days it really doesn't help.  in checking my google reading this morning i had 111 blog posts that i missed out on and lots of people trying to get a hold of me.  thankgoodness i had been keeping up on email or i might be swimming in those for a bit.  the most annoying part of it all was that the beginning of a new month started and i hadn't emailed my sweet pea assignments in before i lost internet connection.  yeah that took almost a whole session at the library . . . but i made it.  whew.  lol! 

the sweet pea scraps april kit is lovely!  i really love the colors and the embellishments that were paired together made this kit just so fun to use.  click here to pick up your kit:) 

 

and the backsides of the papers:

 

my projects using this beauty

i love this pictures of my little monkey butt!  and i love that he still loves all his cowboy gear.  the journaling/date spots are from jenn's etsy store - creative chaos and the red/white polka dot envelope is from my stash. 

 

pictures that i finally got around to document.  a quick easy layout that i added some more of jenn's etsy goodies to.  they really made the journaling take no time at all. 

 

a layout about our day trip to salt lake riding the frontrunner.  more pictures that have just been sitting around waiting for the perfect time to be scrapped.  that silly little smirk of wes' just makes my heart melt!

  

and then i just felt the need to make a few cards this month:

 

 

 

this project might need a little explanation.  in my household i'm the only one who can do the dishes.  not sure why it's so hard to rinse them off and put them in the dishwasher, but for some reason it can't be done.  i finally asked brandon why he never helps out and his response was, "i never know if the dishes in the dishwasher are clean or dirty."  so to help him (and me) i decided to whip this up - the acrylic pieces from the maya road album worked out perfectly for this.  i have magnets on the back of the top piece and the bottom piece hangs by a ribbon and has a magnet sandwiched between two acrylic pieces. 

 

 

sorry not the best pictures, but you get the idea . . . i'll let you know if it helps any;)

and lastly i put together . . . what else, another wall hanging thingy.  can't disappoint now can i? ;)  i still need to add pictures.  i really want to get some fun but casual ones of the three of us together to put in the three bottom squares.  also just so you know the black ticket under the title is from jenn's etsy store - creative chaos and the red ribbon and fancy pants felt word 'love' are from my stash. 

 

 

wow . . . this has become an extremely long post full of lots of scrappyness, but i'll add another one just to make it even longer.  lol! 

this was posted on the dream street blog last week.  using heartsong by alexis hardy.  i love the bright colors of this line and it went perfect with my easter pictures from last year.  i couldn't believe i never did anything with these cute pictures.

 

 

 

the dream street girls posted a few more easter goodies so be sure to swing by and check them out. 

i'm really thankful right now for scrappy deadlines.  it would be so easy for me to replace one addiction with the other, but i've quickly learned that i do have a creative soul and that creativity still needs to have a spot. my projects for sweet pea were so fun to put together and although i worked on it down to the wire (again . . . so thankful that kristen, julie, and jenn are so understanding!!) i enjoyed the process.  so grandma rest assured i'm still scrapbooking, still documenting . . . just trying to find the balance.  always, always striving for the balance. 

well i'm off to fold my 4 loads of laundry . . . blaaaaaah.  i so hate folding laundry - sans the 4 loads that have compiled together on the coach because i didn't want to put away when it was just the one.  one day maybe i'll get over my procrastination.  maybe.