Christmas 2011

I didn't post much about our holidays in December, mostly because finding fabulous for less was keeping me on my toes.  Getting home each night after a hectic day usually meant unwinding with the family and the mad dash to bedtime.  Then came year end inventory.  Oh how I loathe thee.

I digress,

Christmas was in fact great.  I make it a point every year to be prepared, if not done and ready to enjoy the season before we hit December.  Yes I am THAT person.  I have to be THAT person with my job otherwise I will turn into some sort of female version of Ebenezer and we don't want that to happen do we?  I hear so many people that work in my industry just so grumpy and fed up by the time we get to Christmas Eve that it is just plain sad.  Not me my friends.  I'm that chipper one in the corner belting out Christmas Carols that doesn't care if you can hear me or not.  Chipper because my shopping is done, my home is decorated and I may have a few dozen cookies baked.

You can throw something at me now if you like....

But seriously, it is the most wonderful time of the year so why not be happy. I'm grumpy far to many other weeks of the year, I don't need to be for those four weeks. But I also don't have any time for anything else because I gave all my chipperness away in the 14 hours that I was awake.  No scrapping, not allot of visiting.  Just home and work...home and work.  I'm okay with that too.

But now that it is all over I have  slightly more time to do things I enjoy...like scrapping.  Tina gave me some papers to work with waaaaaaaaaaaay back in October and guess what??  I scrapped!!!


The first one is some funny pictures that were captured on Christmas day.  I love them all because we all looked like we were having fun.

Huge fan of scrapping the 3x4 right now.  so easy to create a collage in Picasa and send to your developer.  You can fit way more pictures on a single 12x12 layout.

Me and the bigs with Santa.  My kids wont go near him alone.  Also, I forgot to put a title on this one so I made the teeny tiny chipboard the title just above the picture.  It says "Have you been good?"  I thought it was appropriate enough...and easy.

And then lastly, one about Scout, our elf.  The boys LOVE him, especially M.  I have been so impressed that he hasn't tried to touch him for the last two Christmases.

I have one or two more Christmas themed pages that I want to do.  As much as I love to scrap the everyday, I love to scrap the holidays.  They are part of our memories that I want to remember.  In the mean time though I'm reading this in my limited spare time:

So far so good.  I got a little emotional within the first three pages of reading it, but that story is for another day.  I'm looking forward to the moments that I can curl up with it.

Have a great day!

December Project 12

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh all done this challenge for 2011!!!

I have to admit I feel a little relieved.  I didn't think I was going to get them all done this year but I did and I'm happy.

Funny thing, I started out this year with a plan  to stick with some basic products and a journalling plan and I  veered away. 

The only thing that stayed consistent was my FB updates.  If I continue on with this challenge in 2012, I think I am going to continue with the updates as my journalling.

Since I like everyday scrapping I think it fits perfectly with monthly recap pages.

So here is the sketch:

Loved this one.

4x6 photos...check

All of them lined up in a row...check, check!

Pretty pink Jilli Bean papers from Tina's to work with...Check, check and check!

Here is what I came up with:

I wish that our skin tones were not all blown out but that's what happens with cheapo point and shoots.

Big news though...mama got a new camera.

A Nikon D3100.

I am still learning how to use it and I think I will be going for some lessons.

I know how to change the settings but I am not applying them correctly...AGH!

I honestly cant wait to really know how to use it though.

That's it for today...be back in a few days with another layout....Shocking!!!

We are hunkered down here enduring what is seems to be the Apocalypse of storms...Im sure I'll have other stuff to share!

November Project 12

Well, well, well, here we are nearing the end of 2011, and I somehow managed to pull off the second last installment of Project 12 for the year.

Don't ask me how I accomplished this, because my scrappy mojo left me somewhere back in October.

Not Sure if it was the new fall routine that caught up with me, my disorganized scrap space,  the 2 month bout with insomnia, or maybe dealing with some challenges in my home life but I haven't felt like scrapping at all.

Not one bit.  I get home from work and it is all I can do to keep my eyes open enough to eat and give the kids baths.

There have been several nights that I have fallen asleep, clothes and all, in the boys room.

I digress....Project 12 November...The sketch:

I'm not going to lie to you, I balked and panicked when I saw this sketch.  Not only was my mojo gone, but any one who knows my style, knows that I am a line `em up nice and neat, add a few embellishments type of girl.

I don't do random, I usually stick with 4x6 prints, and I took so few pictures in November, which on a side note is totally not like me either.

But I'm a good sport and committed to seeing this project through to the end, So this is what I came up with:

No word of a lie, it took me two weeks.....GACK!  I replaced allot of the photos with patterned paper, and lined up my photos more like a grid.  There are a whole slew of scrappbookers that do random picture placement so well.  When I attempt it it looks weird, so I stuck with what I was comfortable with, and I think that's okay right?

I'm happy it is done, but looking back at the month and seeing so few pictures that I took of my kids saddened me a little. I had a few more of Michael, then of Jack and I don't like to have uneven amounts, another weird quirk of mine.  I know my head wasn't screwed on straight, but hopefully I'm over that hump.

In the end I was happy to get this completed this morning.  Work will settle down soon just after year end, and we will all be settling in to winter days spent indoors.

There is also an impending purchase so near in my future.  I`m torn between the Nikon 3100 or the Canon rebel 2Ti.  ( I welcome opinions)  I have waited so long to buy my first DSLR that I can hardly contain my self and I think this mama might go a little mamma-parrazzi on her kids with her new toy.

So on that note I am going to see if the flyer's have arrived and peruse the Internet whilst the kids bathe.

Happy, Happy weekend to you all.  If you are out ringing in the New Year this weekend, please be safe.

Nighty night.

Charity begins where you start it.

Today, one of our local radio stations held a food drive to collect cans for our food bank. 

The goal was 8099 cans.

I was one of many who dropped off some cans, one from each member of our household.

Nothing major, yet all day long I fretted over how little I had done.

I drive by that radio station everyday on my way to work, and on my way home today, if the truck was still there, I was going to  buy some more non perishables and drop them off. 

As I was driving by on my way home, I saw the food bank truck leaving the parking lot and happily assumed that the goal had been met.

A whopping 17533 cans were collected for needy families in my city.

Nothing short of amazing if you ask me.

A similar food drive took place at my grocery store last weekend. 

My eldest and I dropped off some non perishables  for the food drive, as well as some cookies for the volunteers, in lieu of him sitting in the drivers seat of a city bus.

He was elated, I was happy to have helped in some small way, shape or form.

I shared these stories with my team today and we talked about how we could help someone in need this holiday season.

Our holiday gathering has come and gone, and there are some funds in our holiday fund that could be put to good use.

A goat for a third world family?  Sponsoring a local families holiday meal?

Both great ideas, but if I am being honest there is a slight motive to my giving.

I don't want my boys to grow up needing.

I am fortunate enough to have a job that pays for their needs as well as their wants.

But I really don't want to forget what it is like to need and want and know you can't have.

Because when you forget you take for granted, and I never want to be that person.

I always want to be the girl who cherished the second hand bike that her mother stayed up late nights repainting.

The girl who displays her homemade clothespin dolls somewhere safe every holiday season as a gentle reminder of Christmases past.

This season is never going to be about presents for me, nor do I want it to be that way for my children.

My boys will have lots under the tree, because I can and because I always will want to do that for them.


But more importantly, I want it to be about life, giving, presence, and love.


I want them to know that charity doesn't begin at home, but learning about it does.

I dont need my charity to be recognized, and I'm not looking for props.

But maybe if you find the time and can spare it, a donation to someone in need this season would mean the world to a Mom or Dad trying to make this holiday special for their family.

That is all

Have you ever seen such cuteness??

Rachelle from Ashford Photography took some pictures of me and the boys a month ago.
To say that I love them is an understatement.
She was able to capture the essence of these two angels of mine.
Thank you Rachelle!

I'm not Rosemary's Granddaughter.
In fact, I have no idea who Rosemary even is.
I do know who I am, and today I was smacked in the face with gratitude for being me.

I have written posts before about my upbringing, I don't need to go there again.
But I do want to go to a darker place, just in case I need a reminder  on a less than stellar day.

I recently met someone who touched my soul in a way very few people do.
My very first impression of her wasn't great.  It wasn't bad but  I wasn't blown away or in awe or her like I am by some people I meet.  Her hand shake was limp, and her voice was soft.  To be honest, I often sum up  person my their hand shake.  Strike one for me.

For what ever reason; fate, karma, a lesson to be learned, this person was able to get past that first impression and on our third meeting confided something in me that wasn't necessarily  ordinary, and sadly more prevalent than one would think,  but I was surprised non the less.  I remember thinking that it was odd that she would tell me a secret when she hardly knew me, but when I meet someone I'm comfortable with I have been known to share.

Today she showed up into my life again with her child in her arms and her eyes full of tears.  Frustration that daycare wouldn't accept her son that day because he had a cold was the last thing she needed to worry about.

Imagine coming from a war torn country, living in a room no bigger than a storage room, living in fear every single day of your life.  Imagine trying to raise a baby in that sort of chaos, a husband that was not there and wouldn't be there for 12 years, only to make his way back into your life to take advantage of you.  Imagine not sending your son to school because you didn't have a decent lunch for him, living in a hotel that you didn't really know was trash but had no other place to stay because the house you just bought was being renovated and the contractor took you for a ride.  Imagine the worst crap that you could possibly imagine and then thank your lucky stars that you are not living that life.

I gave this women a ride today to that crappy hotel, with her little son, because she was going to take a cab and I didn't want her to.  Her Son needed to be in a car seat, not in a cab or waiting for a bus in subzero temperatures.  A teeny, tiny gesture.  One that was met with such gratitude that it made me thankful for all I have.

There are times in this life of mine where I am easily frustrated when things don't go as planned; kids not eating their fruits and veggies, not going to bed on time, daddy not helping me as much as I need or want him to, a perfectly furnished house, time to sleep, time to scrap, TIME.

I walked in my house today and was thankful to be there, thankful that my babies were mine and that they were loving little boys.  Yes we have our issues but they are mine and I love them.  I met Hubs at the door and told him I was thankful for this life.  He knew something happened to spark my announcement and asked me about it.  I was thankful for that and for the hugs that followed.   I held J tonight while he fell asleep, just because I could, just to be able to smell his hair and stroke his soft little cheeks.  Who the heck cares that Project Big Boy isn't progressing.  He is healthy and happy and that is all that matters.  I  was thankful to just sit on the couch and watch a movie with M.  He played a little longer, we cuddled a little longer, we giggled a little longer.  Who cares that he didn't get to bed on time and wouldn't stay in bed.  I was thankful for that extra bit of time.

I am absolutely certain that this woman is not looking for charity or pity.  I think she just needed to unload some emotional baggage today and I happened to be put on the path that she was on.  And while I am not overly religious,  I do believe that our paths are scripted.   Today I was meant to be there to help her in the tiniest way possibly.

I am far from perfect, but my life?  I'll take it each and ever day.

Early morning blogging

It has been weeks since i have had a decent night sleep.

It seems as though my body has this internal alarm clock that goes off after I have reached a four hour stretch of sleep. 

Can't say that it is keeping me very sane...

So in an effort to tire my eyes and lull my brain back to sleep I give you some scrappyness of the very scary Halloween variety:

(Designed for Tina's Scrapbook Creations)

Our Halloween this year was interesting.

I was worried that it wasn't going to go well, as M was hesitant to wear his costume to school that day.

He was just being his normal 4 year old self.

The night of, he was still reluctant until I told him we were going to see our neighbours to get some candy.

Well. he was off and running after that.

It was the first year that he figured out and understood the whole ring the doorbell, say "Trick or Treat"  and "Thank You" routine.

It was cool to see the look on his face.

My other sweet, sweet boy was also his normal 2 year old self just rearing to go.

He wanted to go into peoples houses, have a little visit, run through the streets, smash a pumpkin or two...

I took him home a little earlier than M just to save a little sanity.

The great thing about the age that they are at, is that we can do a spin around the block and we are done.

In one hour we were home and M was helping to hand out candy whilst J munched on a Smarty or ten.

I will admit that it was very difficult to get pictures of them this year...all of them were blurry.

I scrapped them anyways, doesn't bother me much as long as I have the story recorded of my little astronaut  and my little Pablo's excellent Halloween adventure.

And on that note, I hear the pitter patter of little feet looking for me in the night.

Must go see what they want.

Nighty Night.