(diva)logues

"A daughter is one of the most beautiful gifts this world has to give..."

The one thing everyone tells you after you have a child is how fast time will fly by. I don't think you can fully understand how fast it really goes though until you're actually experiencing it and one day you wake up & realize almost 11 years have passed in the blink of an eye. I went to school today to surprise Bryn with lunch. I had several teachers stop & say, "I can't believe this is Bryn's last year here already." I just shook my head. I can't believe it either. I think the real wake-up call happened last month for me during her middle school transition night.

I just keep praying... please God... let her be more willing to talk to me about future issues & drama with girls & boys than I was with my own mom. So far, she tells me about most things. Although I have checked her texts & see that there's issues on the bus involving girls that she's friends with. It appears in her texts that she stays in a neutral position...not taking either side... which is good. But the drama is just beginning sadly. I spoke to her about the girls on the bus the other day & she was so surprised & wondered how I knew about it. I said, "Moms have a way of finding out everything." ;-)

If only she could stay in half-day Kindergarten, coming home to eat lunch & take a nap, forever. I can't even say how badly I miss those days.

New chapter though! Just gotta keep trying to make each second count & remember to not take our time for granted. So easy to do...

Mostly the October Afternoon Schoolhouse collection on here. I love it... so sweet & girly. I added a SRM Baby's First Year sticker sentiment on top. Also used my Marvy scalloped heart punch to layer a couple stitched hearts...

Just reminiscing today. And I probably have a minor panic attack every time we are getting ready to travel without Bryn. It happens so infrequently that we leave without her so on the few occasions that we do... I'm usually ready to cancel the trip with second thoughts the day before we leave. Once I get there, I'll be fine though! And she's going to have a fun weekend, herself, I have no doubt! :-)

I drove all night... to get to you.... (and then you weren't there...?)

The other day while flipping through my blog reader, I came across a card someone had made with buildings on it.  I'm fairly sure it was a stamped image.  But after seeing it, I asked Bryn to draw some buildings onto white cardstock for me, so I could cut them out & use them on a page.  You know how much I like patterned paper with buildings on them.  I've been known to use them over & over again... ;-)

I thought the card I saw was on the Moxie Fab blog, but now I can't find it there... or anywhere else for that matter!  So if you know the image/stamp I'm talking about, leave me a comment so I can give credit for Bryn's inspiration.  I think she just copied them.  Although I was busy doing something else while she was hard at work, so I can't be certain! 

Anyway... aside from Bryn's buildings on here (that I also embellished with a little bling on the clock), I used some OLD, OLD K & Company letters, a couple American Crafts embellishments, a couple SRM sticker sentiments, a free printable journaling tag, some grey paper from that All Girl Recollections paper pad & the yellow paper is Bo Bunny...

I added pop dots underneath the middle building just to give some dimension...

In other news... I received an email today regarding our tickets to see Celine Dion in Vegas.  The show has been cancelled due to weakness in her right vocal cord.  She's been prescribed voice-rest until the end of April.  Are you kidding me?!! 

Looks like we're going to have to make new plans.  PRONTO! 

Sweet emotion....

It's Monday... aka. my day to teach Zumba!  Love that!

Had a fun time seeing family in Illinois over the weekend to celebrate 3 grandkids' birthdays.  The good news is, while we were there... we went to my favorite Mexican restaurant outside of Mexico.  YUM!  The bad news is... Mizzou lost to KU in overtime... even though at one point they were up by 19 points.  POO.  Bob was not happy.  LOVE those kids though, and I even managed to put together a very tricky Lego Batman airplane. 

I also found out my sister got a BIG promotion and will be moving to Denver soon.  Happy for her, but I'm going to miss her SO MUCH! 

POO again...:-( 

Here's another card I made for Nikki Sivils' booth at the 2012 Winter CHA Trade Show using the Exit Here collection!  I just used a journaling card, some letter stickers & some cut-outs, along with some ribbon to make a quick and easy card...         

I love quick & easy!  ;-)

Have a GREAT WEEK, everyone!  I'm thinking it's going to be REALLY great!   

What happens in Vegas...

... starts with what's in the suitcase, of course!  Here's just some of what will be packed in my bags soon.  Some old, some new... and lots of BLING!  

Bling in Vegas... hello... it's a MUST!   

And my swimsuit Valentine's gift didn't fit, so I had to order a new one... 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

     

Advil is getting packed first, just sayin'.  Might be necessary, especially if I make Bob stay out late dancing with me!  Well... not IF I make him... he WILL be!  Also... in looking at the forecast, I'm not even sure if we'll be able to sit at the pool, but we'll probably need warm jackets at night... thus the coat.  Gotta love the desert!       

And did I mention we have tickets to see Celine Dion at Caesars Palace?  I drove all night...to get to you.  Is that alright?    

It's going to be a FUN trip!  Our first trip of 2012... and I can't wait! 

Ok...ok.  Still have a couple Zumba classes to teach and attend before I leave... ;-)

"Tonight is the night that we're losing control..."

Just a quickie post today with a quickie page I made after updating my profile on the Zumba website.  And yes, I know you're all wondering when I'm going to stop talking about Zumba.  It's probably not going to happen for awhile, considering I've been talking about it on here for the last 4 years as a student and now the situation has been amplified by my becoming an instructor!  I FREAKIN' LOVE IT.  It's as simple as that! 

Not that you didn't already know that...

I'm loving the pink zebra print paper from that All Girl Recollections paper pad I told you about the other day.  I also used a SRM Baby's First Year calendar page, since the page is about my new Monday class.  I put one of those free Project Life tags behind my screen shot of my Zumba profile.  Lots of different Zumba & dance wear clothing tags on top that I've been saving. 

Miss Smarty Pants Bryn asked me how many times I was going to make one of those tag banners on my pages. 

I said, "I don't know.  Clearly I must like doing it."

Tag banners are the new clouds, what can I say.

Sometimes it's nice to have another very creative artist in the house & sometimes it's just annoying... LOL!   

"Hello... is it me you're looking for... "

Hahahaha! 

For the next 2 weeks... introductions are being made on the Nikki Sivils' blog of her new 2012 Design Team.  Today is my day to be "introduced"... although I've kinda been around for awhile... like since the beginning... sooo...  Hi again!  It's me!  Still loving Nikki Sivils & loving being part of her team!  Thank you to Katrina for the sweet intro about me on the blog today.  Love ya!    

Here's a few more of the projects I created with the Exit Here collection for Nikki's booth at the 2012 Winter CHA Trade Show...     

I know, right?  So unlike me to actually hand-stitch something.  It's been awhile since my lazy butt got out the embroidery floss...

I've mentioned it before, but it bears repeating.... I love the Exit Here collection!  Fun colors, patterns & perfect for all our travel photos! 

I guess I'm just gonna have to leave town soon so I can take some more photos...Woot wooot! 

Choices...

pinterest

"The day ahead offers us choices of many kinds - some big ones, many that will affect other persons close to us, a few that will have profound effects on our destiny.  But no choice, no decision we make, will be wrong.  A particular decision we make may lead us slightly astray.  Down a dead-end path perhaps - but we can always turn back and choose again.

We are seldom aware of the gravity of a particular choice at the time of making it.  Only hindsight reveals the wisdom of an important  choice.  Nevertheless, no choice is without importance in the overall picture of our lives.  And at the same time, no choice is all-powerful regarding our destiny.  We are offered chances again and again for making the right choices, the ones that will most contribute to the bigger plan for our lives.

I need not worry about today's opportunities for decision-making.  I will listen to those around me.  I will seek guidance in the messages coming to me.  I will make the choices I need to, today."

 

-author unknown

"Turn up the music, just turn it up louder... turn up the music, I need it in my life..."

It's an extra long weekend for us... with an early release day from school yesterday & no school today or Monday.  I'm actually supposed to be in Phoenix for a girls weekend to celebrate a birthday right now, but the flu hit one friend really hard so we rescheduled our flights for another weekend in April.  It's a nasty case of the flu & she's on her 3rd day of not feeling well.  Awful.  I'm disappointed to not be in Phoenix this weekend, but I am looking forward to new plans we've made in the meantime... because they're with friends I kinda love a lot!  Yay!   

I had a little time recently to tackle another event from December.  After finishing up my December Daily mini book, I needed to take a break from all things Christmas for awhile.  But I got inspired to get the red + green back out again...      

I used some more of the free journaling tags I downloaded the other day + a SRM Christmas Tree sentiment sticker.  I also snuck another photo in with my journaling tag banner...

Yay for the weekend!  Hope yours is FANTASTIC! 

Always act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

There's something about a killer workout that's a major attitude adjuster for me.  And I had one at 6:30 this morning in spin class.  What I didn't realize until around 9am, was that I would also have to sub a Zumba class today at 10:45.  Zumba is outta control awesome enough as a student, but when I teach the class... it's a good 2 hours afterward before I can come down from the crazy high it gives me.  Going into a class, it doesn't matter if you're tired, awake, happy or sad... you've gotta leave it all at the door & get into it!  Everyone's energy feeds off of each other and I certainly don't ever want someone to leave my class without a smile (and a great workout, of course!)

Needless to say, I'm still smiling! 

Oh... and my first class begins on Monday at the Y. Every Monday at 10:45am to be exact!  Woot woooot!!!  I'm ready! 

And speaking of Zumba... I love the Zumba girls.  Whether we're hanging out at the Y or buying more bling at a jewelry party... those girls are FUN, FUN, FUN!  Love them! 

I used some of those FREE journaling tags I mentioned the other day + paper from the Recollections All Girl paper pad I recently purchased for 40% off at Michaels.  Like I needed more paper, right?  Kinda like I need another pair of shoes.  Word to your mutha.

 

What can I say, except the paper pad had me at girly & animal print. 

You know what I'm sayin'...  ;-)

Happy ♥ Day...

Happy Valentine's Day!  We'll be celebrating with our annual tradition of making lobster at home for the 3 of us.  It's too hard to get reservations at a restaurant and I'd rather celebrate with BOTH my Valentines anyway.  Plus... Bob & I already had dinner out with friends last weekend, so technically we've already celebrated.  ;-)

This year, Bob gave me a different kind of "bling" for a gift... a blinged-out swimsuit!  And since I have 3 fun-in-the-sun trips between now & the end of March... this suit will definitely come in handy!  I say that with hope... as I haven't tried it on yet.  It may not fit.  LOL

     

So anyway... since it's Valentine's Day, we were asked to create a Valentine-themed project using any of Nikki Sivils' collections.  I used one of our family photos taken by Fitzgerald Fotography LLC...

I went with a combination of Nikki Sivils' collections to make this page... Sugar Cookie, Max & Mollie, d Summer & the new Exit Here woodgrain paper... basically lots of PINK! 

Also... just another reminder to check out the "Box of Love" deal on the Nikki Sivils' blog.  There's been a great response already, and quantities are limited... so hurry! 

I hope your day is filled with lots of LOVE... and chocolate, too! 

XOXO

"When you're feeling down & out... and you've got troubles on your mind... love will save the day..."

Eventually... things change.  Sometimes I go with the flow, other times I'm kicking & screaming the entire way.  Change is good though, right?  Right...

Bob gets to deal with my kicking & screaming, so-to-speak.  I have to say though... he does save me.  Mostly from myself, I suppose.  We take the day-to-day for granted sometimes, probably more often by me than by him... but he's the love of my life.  And I wouldn't want to be traveling through this life without him.  We make a good team.  Not a perfect team, but a really good team.  We get each other.

Whitney Houston's death kind of got to me today.  I was listening to the radio & they played a clip of a lot of her "best-of" hits.  I grabbed my phone to download a couple favs of mine.  Then they were talking about her daughter... how she'd gone to the hospital twice that day after she had passed away.  I just sat there & stared out the window.  And then I started bawling.  I know that feeling of disbelief when someone you love passes away suddenly and without any warning whatsoever.  My sister & I went to the hospital later that day after our other sister had passed away.  She had already been taken to the morgue by then, but we hadn't seen her.  So they brought her from the morgue to a hospital room for us.  I needed to see her.  I needed to know it was real and not just the worst nightmare in the world.  It's a memory I wish I could erase from my mind, but I had to say my goodbyes to her in her body... even though her soul had already passed on.

I'm a mess sometimes, what can I say.  

In the meantime... it's almost Valentine's Day.  So I ran out today to get some gifts for my Valentines.  I'm also busy making some cards using the old Sugar Cookie collection from Nikki Sivils...

And speaking of Sugar Cookie... head over to the Nikki Sivils' blog to check out the "Box of Love" you can purchase for an awesome price!  But hurry... it's only while supplies last.

Have a great week, everyone!           

The power of enthusiasm...

Your life is a great and wonderful experience, so don't be
afraid to show some genuine, infectious enthusiasm for it.
The world is filled with outstanding opportunities, and you
can make the most of those opportunities by being
enthusiastic about them.

Yes, sometimes you might look a little bit silly. However,
it's much better to be laughed at for being enthusiastic
than to be pitied and avoided for being dull.

Enthusiasm keeps you young, energizes your days, and
attracts positive people to your efforts. Enthusiasm keeps
you focused on moving forward, even when there are obstacles
and distractions working against you.

To be enthusiastic, you must do what you truly care about,
and genuinely care about what you're doing. To be
enthusiastic, be honest with yourself about what your
passions are, and follow those passions without holding
back.

Feel how good it feels to let enthusiasm freely flow. Feel
how powerful it is when your actions are continually
energized by your enthusiasm.

Find those things about which you can be authentically
enthusiastic. And then, let the power of your enthusiasm
flow.

Ralph Marston

A few things I ♥ today...

• These FREE journaling tags... love, love, love!

• This article about other people's lives in this day of Facebooking, blogging & online networking.  So, so true. 

• And rainbows + shoes?  Are you kidding me?  It has my name written all over it.  Probably shouldn't spend $275 on a pair of shoes though...

Maybe they'll go on sale? 

For like... 75% off?  LOL 

Winning...

It was a "winning" weekend around here... with much food, wine, basketball, football, family and friends.  The weekend began with a family dinner for my dad's birthday.  Every time we're together, it's constant laughter.  I always leave feeling very, very lucky to have the absolute best family ever.  I also end up wishing we could get together more often...

So... we did just that & we invited my parents over to our house on Saturday night to continue the party and watch the Mizzou vs. Kansas basketball game.  And woooooot wooooooot... Mizzou won the game.  So awesome!  We were all yelling & cheering... I was hoarse by the end of the game... 

source

Sunday was of course the Super Bowl.  We watched it with friends.  I could've cared less about the game and was only looking forward to the Halftime Show.  Madonna did not disappoint.  Although I really don't like her new song AT ALL.  Her old school stuff rocked though, I was loving LMFAO & Cee Lo, too.  Also won $25 for some reason in the last quarter of the football game (or actually I guess I really won $5, because I had bet $20 at the beginning of the game).  I'm going to try not to spend that all in one place... that's some big winnings...

source

And finally... I used random.org to pick a winner for my blog give-away & the #2 comment was picked...

CONGRATULATIONS, Teresa, who said:

So, if I post more than one comment does that mean I now have two chances to win????? ;)

Posted by: Teresa | February 01, 2012 at 02:19 PM

I'll get your prize out to you right away, Teresa!

And thank you, everyone, for the sweet comments... about my crafty projects AND my shoes!  LOL! 

Have a GREAT week, everyone!

I am a very lucky girl, with the absolute BEST family ever...

Just a quick reminder about the give-away on my blog!  The winner will be randomly chosen tomorrow night... Sunday, February 4... at 7pm Central time. 

Hope you're enjoying your weekend! 

A big THANK YOU to SRM Stickers...

Today is my final post on the SRM Stickers blog.  It's been a lot of fun to have been part of SRM Stickers first ever design team in 2010 & then to have been asked to continue on for another year as an Emeritus Designer in 2011. 

The new releases that made their debut at the Winter 2012 CHA Trade Show this week are completely adorable!  I'm LOVING the fun colors & patterns on the new border stickers! 

We've Got Your Border birthday stickers...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE...

and the We've Got Your Invite stickers are so cute...

I made a quick card using more border stickers, cut to fit...

We've Got Your Border thanks stickers... adorable!!!

My closing thoughts & appreciation for my time spent with them for these last 2 years was posted on the SRM Stickers blog today.  While this is my official last posting with them, it definitely won't be the last you'll see of SRM products used in my work.  I'm hooked on their products & will ALWAYS be a fan! 

Thank you, thank you, SRM Stickers! 

XOXO

4 years of blogging...must be time for a GIVE-AWAY...

Actually, my first day of blogging was on February 15, 2008.  Not much has changed since then.  Bryn has changed A LOT.  The formatting of my blog changed, too, so my photos were cut-off with only 1/2 the image showing on some of them back then.  I snagged this image from that month...

... and nope... that hasn't changed either.  In fact, I just bought 2 new pairs of shoes recently...

I do love animal print... especially leopard print & snake skin.  Crazy since I really HATE snakes.

Sooo...how about a little give-away to celebrate?  I have lots of extra unused Nikki Sivils' products to share with one lucky reader...the Ellies Day Out paper collection, buttons, brads, a mini book, 4 6x6 paper pads, stickers & Breadless Tabs... 

 

Just leave a comment on this post to be entered into the give-away.  Maybe you could tell me why you read my blog... is it to see my projects or perhaps because you love to see me mention Zumba for the 500th time?  LOL  I get a lot of hits every day, but only a few people leave comments so I'm just curious.  Curiosity killed the cat, you know, so maybe I shouldn't be curious?  Hmmm.

I'll leave commenting open until this Sunday, February 5 at 7pm Central time.  

And much thanks to those of you who have been visiting my blog over the years.  It's been nothing but a great experience in a FUN industry and I have loved every day of it!  Your comments keep me laughing, for sure!   

Big hugs...