Goin to see Nana Faye...

Ever since I found out that Nana Faye was going to be this direction for a wedding, all I could think about was getting to where she was going to be. I knew this was a once in a lifetime chance to "get my hands on her" to get hugs and just to be around her even if it was for a few minutes. I know yall may not understand or be able to comprehend the value of the love we have for this woman. No she really isn't related to us. But she is our Nana. Thinking back she has always been around. When I needed someone to talk to. WHen I needed advice or someone to tell me like it is. Or a shoulder to cry on. Heck she helped me go through baby names back and forth when I was trying to think of names for this little bit right here!!


So getting to see her live and in person. not talking to her on the computer or on the telephone. (Im going to start crying again) was the most wonderful gift I could have ever been given in my life. I just kept looking at her. soaking it all in. Every second. Looking at photos. Talking and just being with her.
Her skin is so soft. She smells so good. I want to remember every second.
Time went very fast.






John took alot of pictures (I thought our expressions were funny on this one)

It was really good to see Carol and Norman again.
Nana Faye gave Bella the sweetest lil Doll. Bella has named her after Nana Faye. (how sweet is that?)



Carol looked really good. I know she is about to have surgery on Thursday. Hope that everything goes well and she recovers quickly.

Bella was happy to see them and loved getting extra whip cream with Carol for her Banana pudding (they share that love)




We had a nice lunch. Had a good time. was so good to see Nana, Carol and Norman. Don't worry we Gave her hugs for everyone.
I just Didn't want to leave. I Wanted to put her in my car and take her home with me.
Love that woman! Really hope she enjoys the wedding and we didn't wear her out too much today. I know we enjoyed seeing her and I wouldn't have traded today for anything in this world.

No Frills/mini album class SOLD OUT

I would like to Thank you ladies so much for coming to the Class today for Making Strides for Breast Cancer. The mini album we made was a lot of fun. I am proud to announce that My class sold out! I have no class kits even left. Thank you so much for your Generosity your encouragement and helping Darlene to make her goal with Making strides. Thank you to everyone that helped. I am exhausted.

Bring em if ya got em

For those people that are going to be coming to crop and for those that will just be attending our class tomorrow here are some suggested tools and things that you may need that will make it a lot easier for you to put this album together in about an hour.
* I know there are a couple that have not cropped before or scrapped do not panic. You do not have to run out and buy this stuff.

I will have these tools on hand DO NOT GO OUT AND BUY THEM SPECIAL for this class! Now after you take the class if you play with them and love them decide it is something you will use and you love then go for it!

If you already own them.... PLEASE BRING THEM :)

*Cropadile
*scissors
*Distress edger tool (can be by whomever making memories, Tim Holtz, Heidi Swapp, There are many out there I have 1)
*Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher or a stapler
*Bone folder or trimmer that has a scorer
*pop dots
*liquid adhesive such as: Aleenes tacky glue, zip dry something thick the album is cardboard base.
*Tim Holtz vintage photo distress stain or Tea Stain distress stain or Tim Holtz VIntage Photo Distress ink Tea stain will work also (I have a few but I don't have enough for every one I really tried Im so very sorry)

THE GOOD NEWS IS: I will be doing a drawing and the ones that I have I will be giving them away in class to SOME LUCKY PEOPLEEEE.
YOU HAVE TO BE THERE TO GET THEM THOUGH.

NOW REMEMBER I WILL HAVE TOOLS on hand you are welcome to use just I have (example) 1 of the Tiny Attacher we have a lot of people that will be here so this is just to help you. If you have your own tools etc for you to use It makes it easier for you. You are welcome to use mine if you do not have something. I do have either or on the stains and inks and we are going to pass them around

There are a few other surprises we have too but I can't give away all my secrets I mean what fun is that?? I will see yall there. THANK YOU GUYS for signing up for this. Darlene is such an amazing person. I appreciate all of your support.
We are going to have so much fun I am so excited!

SO DO you wanna peek at the next page too for another taste? or will it freak you out? (REMEMBER we already have it PRECUT OUT FORRR YOUUUUUUUUU yall vote and let me know. ya? no? want to wait till in the morning to see it?

If you have any questions Lemme know. SEE YALL IN THE MORNING.

Our Last Game and a Pizza Party

It has been a GREAT year so far for Bella at her new school. She has enjoyed being a cheer leader. Last night was her last game. They had a lot of fun as we enjoyed watching them. They are just the cutest things.



Our girls have come a LONG way for a lot of them to never have cheered before.
SO PROUD of them.


I know Bella had a blast. She made some really good friends and it really helped her adjust to this new school a lot quicker.
She was really having a hard time.
She missed her school she was at before and her BFF's (still does)



Although she has made some really good friendships here and is doing really well.
I hope she will go out again next year. It has been fun.

After the game, There was a fun Pizza party at Godfathers pizza. eye yi yi!
can you imagine 22 hyped up little girls in a pizza parlor that was NOT very big along with their families. approx. 50 ish people.
(I had migraine all day was an interesting evening believe me)
Pizza was great, the kids were fabulous and I DO BELIEVE everyone had fun. You can tell by the Rave reviews the Blue and Yellow cupcakes received!












We are so grateful to our cheer coaches for their patience their time and dedication to our daughters. We thank them for taking the time with them and also the values and beliefs they help instill in our girls. We are so ever thankful.

No Frills Crop/Class mini album THIS SATURDAY

I am honored to have been asked to teach a class with my pal Melissa Eschler at the NO FRILLS CROP at Providence Church Of God THIS SATURDAY. All of the proceeds 100% from the crop and from this class (and if we have any kits that we sale) will go to Making Strides for Breast Cancer. Darlene Chavers is the Hostess of this event. She is a 3 year survivor and dear friend. Breast cancer has touched so many of our lives I know it has ours. Everyone in this day and age knows someone or has a family member with Breast Cancer. I hope for the day when we can say like polio. I remember when it existed but it doesn't anymore. That cancer is a thing of the past.

Here is a sneak peak of the cover of the mini that I will be teaching. Melissa Eschler will also be assisting me with this class!



Thank you to Unkit Live and Teach Crafts like a Rockstar

I was going to put a title on this. BUT THENNNNN, I decided why make it so limited, WHY NOT let my students decide what they want their books to be about. These papers are so versatile and the colors are so vibrant and fun, It is pretty much limitless in what you could do with it. I will have an example already premade with title and photos if someone wants to make one and just doesn't know what to do.
BUT, I really want you to put your creative hats on.

THIS is going to be a very fun class. You know with Melissa and I together there is no telling what will happen haha! so Come have fun with us this Saturday.
BRING YOUR CREATIVITY TO THE CROP! WE WILL SEEEE YOU THERE!
(If there are any kits left over from this class we will be selling them after wards we will post it here and on facebook for anyone interested)

Mobile Convention fun fun fun!

We had a GREAT time at the Mobile Convention. Met new friends. Had fun with friends haven't seen in a while. OH and we scrapped!
I took two classes but we will get to that in a minute.

Darlene was her funny self. I rode with her she was one of my table mates along with Mrs Sherry and Becky. We were right by that new store Gulf Coast Scrapbooking (OH THEY HAVE CUTE STUFF! and ANN ROCKS If she doesn't have it trust me SHE WILL FIND IT!)
She is just so cute. You need to friend her on FACEBOOK HERE

She has a cute little store down on the gulf coast. I hope we get to go down there and crop soon! So I did Get some stuff made. I was so distracted by all the fun going on.
It is hard for me to scrap in such an environment. I am sure you wouldn't imagine this but I like to talk. (I KNOW y'all all are just shocked!) I seem so meek and quiet.
hehe.
I get distracted so easily and all the pretty different scrapbook things everyone is doing wowww!

Scrap happy in Pensacola had their booth there ::waving:: They have amazing mini albums! (swoooon) and altered projects! (oh my)
Well I managed to get some things done. I'm a slow Scrapper. Although I do put a lot of work into my projects. (and I nitpick them to death)
I did the first one Of my lil cheerleader

with this months Paper Posies kit: Ya thats The October Afternoon Boarding Pass paper (the back side haha! SO you DON'T have to use it JUST FOR TRAVEL PEOPLE!!! IT is the PERFECT COLOR FOR Cottage Hill Cheerleaders!




THe next page I did (I finished up the journaling when I got home. These are some Older photos that I had just been waiting on the perfect paper. Well Teresa Collins hit it spot on with her Posh line. But yall know I just love me anything Teresa.
I added a sheet of the Echo Park Victoria Gardens music Theme paper to go along with the theme of the page. A pair of her jeans gathered around the page.


Lots of Tim Holtz stains, tiny staples, and some GLitz bling finish it off.

Scrapping Frenzy did a wonderful Job with this convention. I think everyone had fun.
The classes were fun, Everyone had their own 6 foot table so plenty of room to spread out, the food was good, The classes were great.
Which brings me to this.



This was the second class I took with


YA! Donna Salazar! LOVE HER! she (as Bella says) is so sparkly.

She was the special guest teacher at the convention. She is amazingly talented and taught us all about how to make flowersss and showed us wonderful things. She springled her sparkly knowledge on us all down here in Mobile with her love for grunge (and you know IM all about some grungey scrappin)

I Didn't finish the other class that I took with her. (and I cannot find my instruction sheet it is somewhere in that pile of stuff that is packed that Im not finished unpacking yet) so I am kinda winging it. I know. scared aren't ya?
BUT IT IS SOOOO COOOL and I want y'all to see it. We have open house at Bella's school and we have had to have something moved up to tomorrow that was supposed to be done later. So my hair is standing straight up right now.
Nothing like a little STRESS to make your life interesting.

SO I will get it finished this week I hope along with some other projects I started there.
Bottom line... IT WAS FUN. I made new friends One in particular that I am so happy I made! (Becky) Met some amazinggg people! was so wonderful to finally get to meet Donna in PERSON after talking to her online all this time. Thank you Cheryl and Cyndy and everyone for all your hard work in making this such a success.
I hope we can get more amazing teachers to come down here!

I'm sure I forgot ... something,

I have been planning this for I cannot remember howww long. But, just know it has been a reeeeally long time. If I had to drag myself down there with an iv in my arm I wouldn't miss this. Donna Salazar is here!! I'm so excited to see her! Gonna be sooo much fun!
I KNOW I forgot something. WHAT? I have no idea. If you asked me where something is in all that stuff I couldn't tell you that either. I really hope this weekend is a HUGE success so maybe we can get more classes down here with more people! who knows maybe even get Teresa Collins? or May Flaum? Or Margie? YA NEVER KNOW we might just can do it!!
Anyway I am out of here going to get my scrap on people Hope you all have a WONDERFUL weekend!
Do something creative! hopefully I didn't forget.... much.

Bella explains it all...

Yall do realise... it is hot out here. I am glowing. Because girls glow. Boys sweat.
I am glowing all over the place. Hmm.. wonder if Daddy will take me to McDonalds after the game. oh look a butterfly.... man it sure is hot out here.

Can't we cheer when its cooler out here. Oh ya.. football game. That's right.
Forgot they were back there.


That's Brayden. Thats my boy. hands off!

This is the poor guy that got the ball and everyone chased after him. I dunno why he wants the ball anyway. Everyone just then runs after him. This game makes no sense to me. Man its hot.
Ok we are going to do another cheer.





This cheerleading stuff is pretty fun. I don't understand why they are all running after that ball out there. I mean, When they get it everyone beats that person up. I wouldn't want Brayden to get that ball and get beat up. Cheerleading is so much more fun. Boys make NO SENSE whatsoever!

Paper Flowers on a Sunday afternooon.

I made these flowers yesterday (while Bella was learning her books of the Bible for Bible class) my fingers are still stained.
I wanted to put something on there from her 7 year old year I looked down and there were these jeans that I had been cutting up using for another project. just seemed to go perfectly with this. 7 flowers... 7 years old.
She was having a hard time learning those bible books. (some of those names in the old testament are tough!!) I thought hmm.. She is a cheerleader. I am her cheerleader. What better way for us as parents to encourage our little ones than to let them know we are behind them. We love them and that we are proud of them. That WE HAVE FAITH IN THEM. WE KNOW THAT THEY CAN DO IT!
Hope she can look back at this and know that her parents really are on her side. (even when it seems like we are being the mean parents. It is for good reason. (like making her listen to the books of the bible song over and over) Some day you will appreciate it when you can find Ecclesiastes with no problems whatsoever! Love you kiddo!


I made this layout using Core dinations card stock, Donna Salazar patterened paper, a piece of cardboard I stripped and stained with Tim Holtz stains, Glimmer mists, some of Bella's old jeans, Jenni Bowlin Butterflies and bingo Card, I also altered the butterflies to match the layout, Girls Paperie embellies, American Crafts Stickers and chipboard Thickers, My little Yellow Bicycle Doilies, Stick Pins by Making Memories, Crystal Stickers Jewels

Friday night pre game show!

Bella had a GREAT time last night. I have to say we did also. She has had a VERY hectic week and next week isn't looking much better. TWO games next week Ok well on Tuesday the Termite league plays one game and the Pee wee team plays two games in one night. I am praying this is a typo on the news letter because this is a school night. We may have to leave early that night but I hate to not stay and support our boys. They are having to stay and play.

Bella was so ridiculously tired last week. I don't want her grades to start hitting the bottom from all this. We are in 3rd grade for petes sake!

Then they have that same Thursday another 2 games (Termites play one then the Pee Wees play one)
Soooo, last night She got to cheer with the High school (professional cheer leaders she calls them) at the pregame show. They did 2 or maybe it was 3 cheers and a dance.
Was soooo so cute. They had the kindergartner cheerleaders out there as well.


Ya there were a WHOLE bunch of them out there.

Bella was right in the middle, back row, 50 yard line. 2 pony tails, shirt untucked (go figure)




She did really good. I thought she would be so nervous but she did amazing. She has this cheerleader stuff down.








THey all did such a great job. The little ones were so cute.

The warriors WON THE GAME to boot! Bella said it was because we had so many cheerleaders! There may be somethin' to that!

What doesn't kill us makes us.... tired?

ok ok I KNOW that is not how the saying goes, and it isn't very positive. LET ME SPLAIN MYSELF. YESSSSterday. I think was a huge worn out day on my list of worn out days as of late. This kid I tell ya. First off we (being John and I) had a Dr. appt for physicals to get all our blood work done and blah blah etc for ins. purposes. SO he had the "come to Jesus" talk with us about eating right and exercise and yayaya.
I knew I needed to eat 3 times a day. I have had problems with this for a long time.
(a lot of it is that medicine but I always have had eating issues with my freaky stomach) so we got paper work and said ok we will do all this take this do that and come back and see how it goes.
Went to our NEW FAVORITE REST. Mediterranean Sandwich Shop right down from us at Winn Dixie Shopping center. Got my orzo with the Turkey bacon They have good gyros too. Figured that was a way I could plan to eat then and again that night. Maybe tomorrow morning too (The large orzo usually will feed me 3 times) I am trying to plan it so I can eat 3 times a day now. (I have to make it easy or Im not gonna do this.)

So Rest a bit and get ready for Bellas ball game across the Bay. We get there and another game is going on. Our game (sup to start early but no starts late)

The kids had a blast though.
But thought we were going to get to get home early and do more studying (Thank the lord I made her read over it and study before hand! She kept saying she could on way home but I was mean mom)



She is gonna have to get used to the routine. We are not used to all this activity.


Hopefully the weather will go ahead and coool off!
Last night was awesome. It was perfect temp. enjoyable.

The girls were sooo cute. They did cheers and dances and the whole shebang.
All their hard practice is paying off.

I tried to get photos of it but they didnt come out good But every time our boys would make a touch down They had to do pushups. Was soooooo cute!
THey are working on doing them all together... was so funny!

AND YES OUR BOYS are even moreee determined so they have to do push ups (BELLA said her arms and chest were hurting this morning)She appreciated it Warriors!



Another Pep rally tonight for our Varsity guys and get to see my girly all full of spirit cheering them on. Getting them all Psyched up.

So.. LETS GO WARRIORRRS!!!! (I will nap tomorrowwww!)

signed... one worn out mom (and I know her daddy is draggin' also haha!)

HAPPY SEPTEMBER EVERYBODY

Well it is a new month. Did you get your computer backed up? What about your photos? Did you get your pictures printed off? Yaaa me either. Good thing we have a long weekend huh? Unless your one of those fortunate people that gets to actually TRAVEL and have fun on Labor day? We used to be those people before MS.
IS ok Suposed to be raining all weekend. (AND some awesome COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYIN THIS WEEKEND WHEWWHEWW) I just felt Bella's eyes roll from where ever she was. That child will come into where John and I are and scold us for "Being TOO LOUD". We get into our football games. I worry I am going to be "That mom" at her games at school.

My mom embarrassed my brother horribly when he played football in school. I was young so I don't remember it. Just remember the stories. Something involving "THEY BETTER GET OFF OF MY SON!!" good thing I don't have a boy PLAYING foot ball. Glad she is Cheering.
She is so excited!
It will not be long now before her games begin.
She is the perfect one to be a little cheerleader. She brings me alot of cheer.
I mean I woke up to this on my phone the other morning.



Is that not an amazing way to wake up?
Love that girl!
So her Being a next generation "Cheer" leader just seems to fit. ya she is following in the foot steps of her cousin Kasi and me also. A funny but interesting fact. Her cousin Kasi and I both cheered at the same school. Lots of years in between.NO COMMENTS about that please! :P~(Kasi is my cutey niece) My mom still has some of my cheer uniforms. Whats funny. Bella could probably fit in them now.




Notice the matching outfits? She is all about that. Surprised lou lou the lamb didn't have one too. Silly girl. This is another just woke up picture. I tell her this is when she is the sweetest and snuggly. My girl is growing up yall! Hope everyone is doing ok with the storms. BE safe with the next one it looks like a booger as well. Hope yall are getting a break before it hits.

Think I will go work on doing as I say and back up my computers and pictures and.... yeah. :)
have a great day!

so here it is end of August

Seems like this year is flying by. The kids are back in school. Bella is LOVING cheer Leading. They have their first game soon. She is practicing her cheers all over the house. She cheers everything now. you ask her a question and its " Y- E- S- mommy!!! whewwwwww or N- O- Thank you SHOW SPIRITTT!!!" hahaha. I love that youngen she cracks me up! Ya she is really getting into it.

So it being the end of the month a couple things we need to do.

1. REMEMBER TO BACK UP YOUR PHOTOS~ too many people have computer crashes and yes it is hurricane season. I have been trying to uploa2d mine as I go to Walgreens site. Also there are places like photobucket and Flicker.
You can also back them up to disks and put copies in a safe deposit box for storage.
which is a very good idea.

I have been trying to print some off to scrap and frame as I take them. Notice I said TRYING.
As I get different papers and kits I put the photos that I want to use with it in with them so I can just grab them when I have time to scrap them.

2. Back up your computer, hard drive.
I try to do this at the end of the month also. is a good way to remember it.

3. Is your antivirus, malware protection updated? this really needs to be done MORE Than monthly. REALLY with facebook and all the other malicious stuff out there it is a good idea to update it regularly depending on how often you are on the internet facebook, twitter can bring you all kinda lovely infectious things onto your computer.


Just a few reminders for you, Things we do around here at the end of the month to keep the computers running. Thank the lord I have an in house I.T. guy. He is constantly reminding me of these things. So I thought I would share.

Also wanted to share with you some other fun things coming up.

TEACH CRAFTS LIKE A ROCK STAR
This is going to be a really fun experience to get you teaching classes well.. like a rockstar! Taught by some of the BEST in the business. Check it out.


also be sure to check out TEACH CRAFTS LIKE A ROCK STAR on facebook


Hope you have a wonderful day!

Just some scrappy fun stuff

A couple of layouts I did with Backporch memories kits

Tara took this photo Of her son Brayden and their dog Stevie G When Bella was over swimming. How funny huh? I just hadd to scrap this. This kit was perfect for it.
The Journaling reads: " To say it has been hot is not even close, even Stevie G. has been jumping in the pool to cool off. He likes to take a swim with you and Brayden. He is a very cool funny dog. July 2011"
I also put the number 8 amongst my cluster of embellies (to remind me how old they are in this photo haha ya I forget)I just love that little thermometer. How cute is that? IT REALLY WORKS TOO Bella tried it out hahaha!


This layout just had to be done. This is like a rite of passage. I mean we alll have done this. I cringed when I saw her in front of that dirty old box fan but she was just too cute singing away. SO had to take some photos.

Wanted to point out a few things I did on this layout.
I used the layered flowers instead of as flowers as a border at the top behind the photo I cut them in half and inked them also I used my We R Memory Keepers cropadile and punched holes in 2 of the center circles and made it appear like buttons
and used them on the bottom and twisted the ribbon like the fan was blowing it away from the singing bird.

Anyway BACK TO SCRAPPING!
I am working on some mini albums. Working on a class that I am teaching with my friend Melissa at the No Frills crop (crop for a cure) that our friend Darlene is hosting here in Mobile on Oct. 15th. We are teaching a mini album class. It is coming along and is sooooo cute. It is going to be a class you wont want to miss.
Gonna teach some fun techniques and tricks and have some fun product also.



Edited* Wow I cannot believe an Earthquake just hit virginia that was a 5.9 but was felt all the way to Washington D.C. and all the way down to Georgia. My brother was working out in the field in Ohio and said he could feel it there! Wow. I was watching on the weather channel and they showed some footage in New York. Those Biggg bridges that had the cables holding them up. All those cars going over them. My heart just sank. Made me so nauseous just to think WHAT COULD have happened. Also Made me very thankful that nothing severe DID happen.

Watching this hurricane Irene hoping that it will not do any severe damage. The east coast is just catching it right now.
Praying for you all my friends.
Please be safe
Hope you have a great day.

One week down..

So it has been a whole WEEK of school already. So hard to believe. My baby is a 3rd grader. I KNOW. I keep saying that. It is just so hard to let go. watching her grow up into this amazing kid is so awesome. We were so blessed to have her in the first place.
We wanna just put a brick on her head and keep her little.

She is having a good time. Making friends. getting used to her classes. She told me she had music last night. All I got out of her is she got to go "AHHHAAAHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH AHHHH AHHHH" so I took it they did scales.
was pretty funny.


she is loving the variety in uniforms they get to wear.
They get to wear SKORTS. she is such a little priss. She cracks me up with the skorts "look mom its a skirt nooooooo its shorts nooooooooo its a skort".. and giggles.



I think she is really going to enjoy this year of 3rd grade. She has made some friends already. She lovvvees her teacher. She is going to pick back up guitar. She is rockin the cheerleading and she said she has already experienced real mystery meat in the school cafeteria, so what else can you ask for?

I think we are definitely getting our moneys worth. she has the social part down anyway.
Now just have to do something about this heat so mama can help her more. anyone got that little request sheet we send to the good lord? I would love to fill one out that asks for cooler weather. Thank you in advance.
Bella is convinced all I need is Ruby Tuesdays Salad Bar and that I will be healed.
I may have to try it and see just you know to test out her theory will get back to you on my findings. Hope you have a good weekend.

FIrst day of 3rd grade? whaat?

SERIOUSLY? WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? my baby grew up?
Seems like she is only supposed to be 4 years old like in the header of this blog. All sassy and prissy and running around pointing her finger singing. sigh. So hard to believe she is going into the 3rd grade. I am going to be looking her straight in the eye by the end of this year. She is getting so tall. (not to mention a big ol foot on this kid) She was laughing putting on her uniform this morning. She said "These are bowling shoes. We look goofy. We all are going to look like we are going bowling. This is crazy. WHO was the bright person that THOUGHT UP wearing THESE?" Then keeps making swishing sounds and strike noises like she is bowling. My child the comedian.

BUT HOW CUTE IS THIS???

OK so they look like bowling shoes. THEY are still sooo cute. AND she rocks them!

I took our traditional photo (look how much she has grown omgosh!


she was a tad bit nervous but, WHEN I TOLD HER Mrs. Overman was waiting for her. She got quickly over it and got EXCITED!

She was over me taking pictures of her though... (as if you couldn't tell)


We went to orientation (BELLA SAID BOOOOOOOOORRRRRRIIINNNGGGG) Then on to her class room. She has 12 kids in her class.

She loves her teacher.




They are going to have a great time this year.
She had Cheerleader practice after wards. We didn't stay. They kinda ran the parents out. They had a pizza party at the beginning of it. We didn't want to cramp her coolness!
Tomorrow is her first full day I cannot wait to hear all about it. She has already made some friends.
We signed her up for guitar. This guitar teacher knows her last guitar teacher so I think this is going to be a good thing.