why do it...

I'm attempting to be a good mom and part of that is providing healthy snacks and things to eat to my children. Which I do - we have go-gurts, string cheeses, and sliced apples galore. So, when my cute little boy asks for homemade cookies, what am I suppose to do? I haven't made cookies in probably close to a year - unfortuneately, that doesn't stop one from buying them... so when those cute baby blues are looking at me with all the sincerity and puppy dog pity a seven year old can muster - how can I say no?

Hence - a bunch of cookies hanging around the house - which I am in by myself right now and which I swear are calling. Little cookie voices are wafting in from the garage's freezer where I'm keepin' them. I figure they take longer to eat and expend more energy when they are frozen and 15 to 20 more steps to the secret location. Eat me, eat me they say.

So, does anyone want a frozen cookie, or 10? I can't give them all away because that same little guy will come home from school, looking for the promise of chocolate chips wrapped in a flavorful cookie coating along with a cup of milk for dipping. Hey - they can't all be the most nutritious of snacks...where's the fun in that?

what was i thinking...

Okay, so in an effort to get healthy and save a few bucks, I decided to no longer buy cans (sometimes cases) of diet pepsi and other tasty, non sugar, caffienated drinks for my house. I don't really know what possessed me at the time, but the decision is made and I'm stickin' to it. Righhht.

It's not a big deal. I didn't say I can't EVER have this; the drink of the gods, it's just no longer available for me to consume whenever the whim arises while I'm at home - which was way too often. Plus it's helping my kids get out of the habit too... right? They got it into their heads that if mommy can have one, so can they. Wrong.

I also heard somewhere that massive consumption of the stuff can cause your head to loose thoughts easily, forget appointments and small things like picking up the kids from school, putting on a bra, and in rare cases - short term memory loss. So, I've noticed I have trouble remembering how to spell sometimes and the more I look at the word in quesiton, the more it looks wrong. Maybe this is related, maybe not, but I'm trying to do something about it.

So, sometime soon that craving for the crisp, light, refreshing drink will diminish to the point where I no long miss having an open can within arms reach and I'll stop standing in front of my fridge with the door wide open, waiting for the diet coke fairy to visit and leave a little present in there. Man, am I pathetic or what? At least it's not crack.

a new year...

Can't really ring in the new year without a party. We got together with our long-time friends who are at this point, really more like family. I could ask any of these guys for any favor and I know they would help me out however they could. That right there in itself is such a wonderful gift - we truly feel blessed by those we can call friend!



Aren't they just the cutest girls you've ever seen?

Oh, and I'm not sure what was in the water - or Coke Zero in this case, but Scott (my Scott) and Anthony giggled like school girls most of the night. It was one of those types of things where they continued to egg each other on, one-uping each joke to ridiculous levels and for me anyway, was almost as entertaining as being able to understand the joke.

We've been rockin' out a lot this past week or so, we got Rock Band 2 and a new mike and foot pedal from Santa. The drum foot pedal is a real one, made of metal and modified for the game. Yeah, we feel like real rockers!

I'm totally lovin' this new band - well, they aren't new, but they're new to me. Chloe got their CD for Christmas and I've seen a few of their videos on TV and u-tube. Tokio Hotel is the name and they're from Germany - when you see some interviews, they have translators, but they recently released their first english album in the US. They are HUGE in Europe and starting to emerge here, and, they have a decent and catchy sound. One of their songs is even on Guitar Hero - World Tour! Good stuff.

Scott told me for my (yes Mine) New Years resolution, I should try to update the blog more than once a month. He should be careful with such requests because I just might follow up and embarass him with giddy guy giggling pictures! But I really will try - and to prove it, I'm posting a picture or two of my darling kidlets. Here is the freezing family visiting the lights a few weeks ago. And the girls Christmas morning in their new PJ's, experiencing the winter's magesty and bounty of the Clause. Whoa, sounds like something I heard on a movie. Five points if you know which one!

scott sandwich...

Okay, it's been waaaay too long since I last posted here and I've made an executive decision. I'm going to move the focus of this blog more to family and friends, and not so much scrapbooking as it has been. I have a lot more family things I'd like to share where my scrapbooking focus is growing smaller. I'll still post pages and projects that I'm particularly excited about - but it'll be more about my fab fam and friends.

With that being said... I HAD to post this picture I took of our awsome friends - the Robbins. Here Kersten is sitting between our Scotts (hers and mine) in a darling "scott sandwich". We love having them as our neighbors and feel even more blessed that they have become such good friends!

another song...

It's time to get it off my chest - my dirty little secret. Well - that's what I wanted to scrap about anyway! Another page inspired by another song!

Also, check out the new me... decided to go dark. I like it but sometimes when I see my reflection, I wonder "who is that?".

Did you know I have two different colors of eyes? The darker hair brings it out - a lot.

good things utah...

Thought I would post a picture from the Good Things Utah spot I did yesterday. It was so much fun to meet Marti, but a surprise host helped out as well - Frankie Muniz. He added a whole new level of fun to the experience!

I had the privilege to help out my friends at 3 Bugs In A Rug and teach a cute little easel album. Such a fun project using some really nice papers!

popping princesses...

I had to post this fun page that's up at the Making Memories Blog right now. It's the third of four in my designer challenge "music" series and I think the picture is just so funny.

Everytime these cute little darlings come over to play, they head straight for the dress-up bin in Jilly's room. Here they combined two pieces of fun: dress-up and trampoline jumping. Check out the shoes - talk about hard core; they're jumping in the shoes!

it's all about feelings...

Well, here we are at the final week on our senses and it's all about the feelings. You can check out my post about this layout at the Making Memories Blog. I have absolutely loved doing these designer challenges for the MM blog this past month and will have another month long series of challenges next month - focusing on music as an inspirational resource!

I love this layout though... I always seem to get that patriotic feeling when I see the flag and wanted to capture those feelings in a scrapbook page. This one's of Oaken holding onto the flag our Ward youth brings around and posts in our yard every holiday. I love the movement of the flag and needed to capture some of those feelings this sight invoked.

This layout makes me realize again that we don't necessarily need to scrapbook what is happening in the photo. We can journal about our feelings and thoughts on matters that are sometimes only slightly related to the picture; capturing what is in our hearts and sharing more of ourselves.

can you taste it...

The third installment of my senses layouts is one of my favorites. It features one of my best friends and a scrumptious dessert she created - so of course, it was perfect for my 'taste' sense. I combined senses on this one using taste and sight, because you have to admit, it does look as good as it tastes!

Thank you Michelle for this awsome treat and for indulging me with using your beautiful picture!

sound...

Here we are already at week two of the designer challenge; focusing on the sense of sound. This is my youngest daughter Jill and a few of my favorite phrases that bring a smile to my face every time I hear them!

I've added a few close ups of details. My favorite are all the little goodies that Making Memories is so good at creating - paper flowers, epoxy buttons and stickers, brads, and glittering papers!

senses challenge...

I'm so excited to be hosting the Designer Challenges this month on the Making Memories Blog. I wanted to post a close up of the rub-ons I used on the photo... all products are Making Memories and these are the from the doodles rub-on booklets. Such a versatile tool.

Week one was smell - stay tuned the next several weeks for pages using our other senses!

done...

Wow. What else can I say? I won't spoil anything, but I will say; Wow! I didn't see that coming. Oh, or that - and where the heck did that come from?

In my opinion - an excellent book - a fun read - and a great ending to a fantastic story!

The easiest cards around...

I had the awsome apportunity to meet a new creative friend at a Stampin' Up! party a few weeks agao. Elizabeth Jensen has this yummy (literally) company that has the cutest card kits ever! Cherries Jubilee Creations is going to be featured today on Studio 5 at 11:00 AM. Go on over and see just how fun and easy the kits are.

Here are a few cards I made as well as a quick page...

The kits come with 6 folded and pre-printed card bases and 12 double sided papers to build on those cards, play and make them your very own.

There is also a page with design and word strips as well as die cut tags, embellishments, brads and ribbon - all for the awsomely low price of $9.99! I made four cards and one scrapbook page and still have supplies to make at least one more card. So cute and so fun.

Good luck today, Elizabeth! Click for the Cherries Jubilee Creations blog.

win before you can buy...

Hi all - it's CHA time again and Making Memories has a fabulous chance to win NEW stuff - BEFORE you can even buy it! So, go to their blog for hourly chances and good luck!

Here's a page with just a little of what's to come...

This fabulous product makes me excited for Christmas - so beautiful! So - go to Making Memories blog and good luck winning!

B-Day and Cook...

Happy Birthday to Scott - my dear, sweet, hubby! The kids were so exited to give him is 'big' present... a basketball standard. The were even more excited to help him put it together - and then to help him play with it.

All this was going on while I was inside, eyeballs glued to the TV and the American Idol finale. I was torn between the two Davids - Archiletta being from Utah - where I live now, and even from Murray, where I grew up. He is incredibly talented. And then David Cook whose voice and originality is so very appealing to me - love the whole rocker image and sound. I really did want Cook to win - way back at the beginning when he did that cool version of Eleanor Rigby - I really wanted him. It's the first season that I've watched where someone I wanted actually won!

Good times. And music.

design off...

This past Saturday, I had the awsome opportunity to participate in a contest of sorts. A "design off" if you will between three other teams. I was asked to represent Making Memories and we were up against CK Media, All My Memories, and Roberts crafts. The task was to design an outdoor chair using scrapbooking supplies, paint, and anything else we could think of.

Of course, I wanted to use the new 5th Avenue papers from MM - the black and white is my absolute favorite and that little sprinkle of aqua blue and green really adds some flair. The chair turned out great - although we didn't win; but it was also a lot of fun.

Gail, Jenny, and my friend Teresa helped me out in this little task and overall we were very satisfied with our creation. You really can't go wrong when using such fabulous products - gotta love Making Memories!

two more weeks...

Here are two more weeks in my weekly journal. Week 5 found me sick in bed after just getting myself certified for Scuba. Week 6 was yesterday and I forgot to post it then.

two away...

No, this isn't a post about a close basketball score or some other sporting event where our team barely lost. Nope - actually it's my birthday today and having been reminded many times by first my husband and children and then my mom calling, I'm two away. Two small and short years away from the big four-oh.

On a happier tune, I joined the throngs of iPod owners and got my first as my birthday present. It's been a ton of fun too - I've played with it and downloaded many CD's to it all day. I don't feel bad about wasting time though, it's my birthday after all and I'm almost 40. I need a little fun.

Here's a picture - I'm listening to my newest addition to my musical repertoire; a b-side song by one of my very favorite bands...My Chemical Romance. So - happy birthday to me and have a great day.

week 3 & 4...

So, I've already been a bit lax in posting my weekly journal pages. Here are the last two. My goal this week is to make more base pages so I can quickly slap a picture down and add a few thoughts.

As you can see by these pages, it doesn't have to be fancy and complicated. The journaling is the important part. How are you doing?

i've got that...

My good friend Molly emailed me this newly diagnosed disorder. I realized I have been suffering from it for several years now...obviously a younger than average case! Anyway, I wanted to post the symptoms here to alert anyone else who happens along.

AAADD- KNOW THE SYMPTOMS.....PLEASE READ!

Thank goodness there's a name for this disorder - Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:
I decide to water my garden, as I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.
As I start toward the garage, I notice mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mail box earlier.
I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.
I lay my car keys on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full.
So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first.
But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.
I take my check book off the table, and see that there is only one check left.
My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the can of Coke I'd been drinking.
I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.
The Coke is getting warm, and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need water.
I put the Coke on the counter and discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.
I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.
I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table.
I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.
I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor and the flowers didn't get much.
So, I set the remote back on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.
Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:
The car isn't washed
The bills aren't paid
There is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter
The flowers don't have enough water
There is still only 1 check in my check book
I can't find the remote
I can't find my glasses
And I don't remember what I did with the car keys
Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today,
I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all damn day,
And I'm really tired.
I realize this is a serious problem,
And I'll try to get some help for it.
But first, I'll check my e-mail...
Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!!