(diva)logues

Can I get a do-over. Please.

Ummm 2013.  The first 11 days... not so great.  The year literally began with Bryn having a REALLY bad stomach virus.  A few days later I had the stomach virus.  Then last Monday, I got in my car to go teach Zumba & had a dead battery so I started walking to work since I had 15 minutes until my class started.  Luckily a friend who takes my class drove by, saw me walking & picked me up.  I know...so random.  An angel in a van!    

And just when I was thinking that's all just random craziness that happens to everyone... then... worst of all... one of my bestie's husband committed suicide.  Not sure how else to say that without it being so abrubt.  It's an awful horrible tragic mess.

No comments necessary for me though.  Just requesting that everyone who reads this say a quick prayer for her and her daughter.  I love them so much.  And I don't think one can ever have too many prayers. 

 

My December Daily is finally complete, with the exception of Day #23 which must've been such a boring day I couldn't even remember what to say.  Ok well... actually I wasn't able to find a photo either... 

Most of the book was created using My Mind's Eye 12 Days of Christmas + SRM Stickers.  And like I said at the beginning of the month, it's a 6x6 format which made the pages pretty quick + easy to complete.

You can see the book in it's entirety here.

Ok.  Do-over begins now.  Keeping the faith for good things to come...

"Everybody in the club... all eyes on us..."

Another memorable Christmas has come and gone!  It's time to put away all the decorations & prepare for the new year.  And I'm ready for it!

 

We already have 3 trips booked, but I'm ready to plan more. 

I'm ready for my 2nd year of teaching Zumba & loving every second of it. 

I'm ready for another design gig to begin (more on that soon!). 

I'm ready for more fun times and laughter with family & friends. 

I'm ready to make a bigger effort at paying it forward & doing random anonymous acts of kindness.

I'm ready for whatever 2013 will bring... but I hope it's HAPPINESS.

 

I'm almost finished with my December Daily book.  Just 3 more pages to go.  I probably would've been finished by now, but I ran out of ink so I couldn't print my photos.  Minor technicality. 

More My Mind's Eye 12 Days of Christmas + SRM Stickers throughout the book...

Totally loving my new upper arm bracelet that I found on etsy...

You can see the book in it's entirety here.

Our Christmas was a total blast.  So glad my sister was in town & I got to see her 3 times this week.  We also had fun having dinner with friends this week too.  More celebrating to come... starting with my New Year's Eve morning Zumba class!  

Can't wait!!! 

Hope your Christmas was memorable too! 

"What do I stand for... most nights I don't know anymore..."

Welp, here we all are on December 21st.  Much to be thankful for & much to wonder about & pray about.  I'm so glad that as soon as school is over today, Christmas break begins.  The kids could really use a break from what's happening in the news and the "rumors" circulating through schools that "there will be a group of people bringing guns to school today... there will be a lock-down... "  it's all just too much.  Their innocence has certainly been replaced by uncertainty.  School can be hard enough without this added stress.  We're doing a lot of talking though & reassuring the best I can.  Things will be ok.   

More pages here from my December Daily book.  Our Christmas cards finally went out too.  A quick upload of a photo to Walgreens one-hour photo developing, some help from Bryn & Bob stuffing envelopes & they were finally in the mail this week.  Nothing crafty about my cards whatsoever.  Major over-achiever here, folks! 

 

More My Mind's Eye 12 Days of Christmas + SRM Stickers throughout the book...

The envelope holds our Christmas Day invitation that I mailed.  After the holidays I'll also add as many of the Christmas cards we received from family & friends as I can fit in there...

That series of photos of Bob helping Bryn study for her science test literally made me laugh out loud when I saw them.  She was making faces at Bob while he was trying to be serious.  She is a total nut bag.  Sadly for her she can't help it... she gets it from me.  And of course she makes me laugh all.the.time. 

When she's not driving me nuts, that is, because well.... she's just like me!!! 

Off to finally begin wrapping all our Christmas gifts... and see if I've finished my Christmas shopping yet.  Still can't say I'm 100% sure I'm finished yet.  Insert big sigh here... 

Big hugs & have a great weekend everyone! 

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus...

I have to say, I cried quite a few times over the weekend & the tears continued today.  Columbine set the precedent for having lock-down drills in schools, and although I was not yet a mother at the time, it's always been unsettling for me that my child has grown up in a world that needed lock-down drills as part of the school curriculum.  I'll never forget when Bryn was in first grade & she came home from school after one of these drills & asked me, "What do we do at home if we have a lock-down?"  I fought back the tears & told her we had an alarm system to keep us safe.  What else do you say?  I didn't grow up in a time when people went on shooting rampages in schools... or malls... or movie theaters.  

The horrific events at Sandy Hook Elementary hit closer to home because I am now a mother.  And I can't imagine what these poor parents are going through.  What do you say now?  What do you say as you're dropping your child off at school besides, "have a great day & I love you."  I don't know.  I think we just have to keep living our lives without being afraid and trust that all will be ok. 

It is scary though, when all you really want to do is keep your child at home with you forever.   

Anyway... I'm pretty caught up on my December Daily album.  I included the letter Bryn received from Santa, which by the way, made her laugh out loud before she even opened it.  And while she still hasn't come right out & asked me if I'm Santa, it appears that she no longer believes in "him."  So... on the other side of the letter from Santa, I included a letter I found on Pinterest about Santa.  I know she'll read it, as she flips through my book occasionally while I'm making it...

Here's the letter if you want to use it...

And speaking of believing in Santa... I believe that there really is more goodness in the world than bad.  I see it every day.  In fact, every Monday in my Zumba class I see really good, thoughtful people that give me more than I could ever give them.  Their smiles, their encouragement, their willingness to show up... it makes my day.  And this has been a very special year for me in my first year of teaching because of them.  And I think I've thanked my friend that encouraged me to get certified about 100 times since then.  She's the one who knew I could do it and it's changed me... for the better. 

Just one of the many blessings in my life for which I am grateful.

Hugs and love, my friends...

"Get up, get up, get busy, do it... get up & move that body..."

Moving right along here... and I'm up-to-date.  Yay.  All it takes is some uninterrupted time, an hour of The Voice & a glass of wine... it helps with the creative process.  LOL

As with the rest of the book... lots of My Mind's Eye 12 Days of Christmas collection + SRM number stickers & border stickers...

Dear Santa... I really need a pedicure, but I'd kinda rather have a Gucci, so just ignore the toes.  Thanks.

I should probably pull these pages out of the page protectors to photograph them, since some pages look kinda wonky, but you get the idea...

And I've already started on Day #10, aka. the 6th grade band concert day, but we'll save that for tomorrow. 

Good thing The Voice is on again tonight!  Work time!  ;-)

Who's watching besides me? 

Mondays totally ROCK...

Well.... except maybe when I have to play the clarinet during the "Parent Concert" that happens during Bryn's first 6th grade band concert tonight.  Then Mondays kinda don't really rock.

Do I know the 2 songs I have to play tonight (Hot Cross Buns & Merrily We Roll Along)... YES. 

Can I make a pretty sound with my instrument... ummmm sometimes, but NO not really. 

Acccckk!  Can't wait to get BOOED off the stage tonight!  LOVE making a fool out of myself!  (Well, actually I don't really mind making a fool out of myself...I do it often!  LOL!)

At least ZUMBA rocked today!!!  Thank goodness for that! 

Anyhoo... I finished a couple more pages in my December Daily book last night, which means I'm only a couple days behind now.  ;-) 

 

More My Mind's Eye 12 Days of Christmas & SRM number stickers...

I also included a reduced-sized copy of Bryn's Christmas list...

You can see the book in it's entirety here.

Planning to try to get caught up tonight... well... after the concert, that is.  It was a busy, busy weekend & the Zumbathon on Saturday ROCKED BIG TIME!  SO MUCH FUN!  

Have a great week everyone!! 

"Don't you worry, don't you worry child... see Heaven's got a plan for you..."

Moving right along with my book here!  And the running around from here to there every day continues as well.  In addition to everything else going on, I had to pull Bryn from school early the last 2 days in a row... yesterday for the dentist & then today for the orthodontist.  This morning I got up early to do the 6:30am spin class & after I got home I agreed to go back & sub the 10:45 Zumba class.  Bring on the big lunch please.  And thank you.   

Once again I'm caught up here... but still not convinced that I'll stay that way as the month progresses...

 

More My Mind's Eye 12 Days of Christmas collection.  It's making it very easy to put pages together by primarily using one collection for the whole thing...

Those are my glasses I keep in the car now for driving at night.  Had Lasik surgery about 8 years ago, but in the past year the street signs had started getting fuzzy at night.  Most of the time I'm not even driving at night anyway, but I need them just incase.  Bryn got them out & made me put them on to take a picture. 

Off to another Christmas party with the girls tonight & then I have Bob's company Christmas party tomorrow night! 

Tis the season to be jolly! 

"We can dance all night long until the morn, with nothing but our shades on..."

Believe it or not... inspite of a very busy weekend involving an overnight "date night," a Christmas party with my college friends, running, learning a new Zumba routine so I could use it in my class today, finally getting the ornaments on our tree that's been up & naked since Thanksgiving weekend, a drive-thru Christmas light display last night & a weekend-long headache the size of Manhattan... I still somehow managed to get started on my December Daily album. 

And no, I did not pay Bryn to do it for me, although it did cross my mind... 

I'm using some old wood mini book that I found in my craftroom.  For the front cover, I just cut some of the squares from the cover sheet to this My Mind's Eye 12 Days of Christmas collection & added 2 of the SRM We've Got Your Border Christmas stickers + a 2012 SRM Sticker. 

There were a few 6x6 page protectors inside it and I've also cut down some of my 12x12 Becky Higgins divided page protectors to use in it as well.  I did that in last year's book & it seemed to help slightly with the flow of getting pages done.  Although in my case, nothing is ever quick + easy.  I like to make things slow + difficult whenever possible.  But maybe this year will be different?

More SRM number stickers + various SRM Christmas stickers on those pages, as there will be throughout the rest of the book. 

And well... this could be the only time I'm caught up on my book this month, so I'll just go ahead & pat myself on the back today.  Yay me. 

Oh and Bryn got up & put on shorts + a short-sleeved shirt today.  I said, "Bryn, no.  It's December.  That's not appropriate."

She said, "Mommy... it's going to be 76 degrees today, I'm not taking this off.  I'm wearing this." 

I said, "Oh.  Well at least put on a hoodie then." 

How can I argue with that?  This weather is CRA-ZY.

Happy Monday, everyone! 

Let the countdown begin...

Tell me it's NOT December 1st already.  And what would the holidays be without the added work of doing a December Daily album?  But I made one the last 4 years in a row, so why stop now... right?  I'm planning to use the My Mind's Eye 12 Days of Christmas collection that I picked up at Archivers for only $4.99... a special they were running the day before Thanksgiving.  I'm sure I'll be using a few SRM Christmas stickers in there as well! 

And let's see... I think Day #1 should be a photo of me with my headache from staying out too late with my husband last night.  LOL  But alas... I have my annual Christmas party with my college friends tonight so no rest for the wicked!

Calgon... take me away.

Enough already...

I finished up my December Daily book just in time to get started on some brand new projects with some brand new product.  In fact, I just opened my new box this afternoon!  Woot woot!  The timing is perfect too, since I can no longer stand to look at anything Christmas until next December!  LOL 

My book was made almost entirely using the Nikki Sivils' Gingerbread Land collection.  The Becky Higgins page protectors, cut down to size, kept the design of my book cohesive... 

You can see the book in it's entirety right here.

And speaking of Nikki Sivils'... the new design team announcement for 2012 will be made on her blog tomorrow.  Very exciting!

"When I say dance... you dance... and when I say stop... don't move at all..."

I've managed to sneak in some time here & there to finish up 4 more days in my December Daily book.  Could I manage to sneak in some time to take down the Christmas decorations or clean the house?  Ummm... NO.  It's all about having the right priorities, my friends! 

Ok, well I did manage to un-decorate the mantel.  Yay, me.  But the rest of the house is going to have to wait until after we've hit 2012, because I have 2 days in a row of Zumba to do AND some ringing-in of the new year planned for tonight.  Again... it's all about priorities.          

The book has been created, almost entirely, using the Nikki Sivils' Gingerbread Land collection.  You can see all the pages (so far) right here. 

Also... I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to everyone for your kind words & comments over the years.  In fact, in February it will be 4 years since I started this blog.  So much has changed in that time... even in just the past year.  This part of my life, though, has been a blessing for me and I'm truly grateful for all of it... especially for the 2 amazing manufacturers, Nikki Sivils and SRM Stickers, entrusting me to design for them.  It's been nothing but FUN for me with both companies! 

So...on this New Year's Eve, I just wanted to send best wishes to everyone for a very HAPPY, HEALTHY & PROSPEROUS 2012 full of much LOVE and many good MEMORIES!  Be safe tonight & have FUN! 

Big hugs + kisses... 

"Oh... sometimes... I get a good feeling..."

I think I'm going to have to rename this my December almost Daily mini book.  I had to skip a couple days last week to get caught up... just the 13th & 14th.  And probably the real reason is that I didn't have any photos from those days, nor could I think of anything earth-shattering that happened either.  Or rather, I could've thought of something, but I'm feeling the need to be an under-achiever right now.  LOL

Even though I've tried to simplify the process by using the divided page protectors, this book still takes a lot of time, thought & creativity... of which I seem to be majorly lacking these days!  I will finish it though... and hopefully without skipping any more days since Christmas is already here this weekend. 

I think I can... I think I can...

"In the suburbs I, I learned to drive... And you told me we'd never survive, grab your mother's keys we're leavin'..."

It was another fun weekend, with more holiday celebrations!  Even Bryn got to have fun with friends all weekend.  Had to play a little bit of catch-up yesterday, but somehow I'm managing to stay current on my December book... 

You can see the book in it's entirety, to date, right here.

The majority of my book is being made with the Nikki Sivils' Gingerbread Land collection.  You can find Gingerbread Land online at Scrapbook.com... grab individual pieces or the entire collection!

Have a GREAT week, everyone!

"You want omelet or cereo?"

Well, I'm beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel with regard to Christmas shopping.  It's more than half-way complete.  There are still a couple people I have absolutely no clue what to buy them, but I suppose I'll eventually have a sudden flash of inspiration.  And no I haven't even begun to wrap anything.  Wouldn't want to be too organized. 

I have the first 3 days of my December Daily finished.  While the divided page protectors make it easy for me to finish a page without much thought... the glare does pose a bit of a problem when trying to photograph the pages.

Off to make breakfast food for dinner.  We're eating in our pj's tonight.  It's a tradition we started several years ago & Bryn's favorite thing to do at Christmas time. 

And the title of this post... something my sister & I say to each other ALL.THE.TIME.  We had a flight attendant ask that to us & everyone else on a flight to St Thomas once & we've been repeating it over & over ever since then. 

I'm not sure English was her primary language, but I'll take cereo please...

"Pressure pushing down on me... pressing down on you no man ask for..."

Ok, so I caved... to the peer pressure I suppose. 

I've made a December Daily book for the past 3 years now.  This year I decided I was way too uninspired, way too short on patience & just frankly have too many things keeping me distracted right now that I wasn't going to tackle this book.  NO. NOT GOING TO DO IT.  But every single year by the end of the month, I'm really glad I took the time.  It even makes me think I can tackle a Project Life book when I'm finished.  And then I come back to my senses & realize it ain't happenin'!   

You can see my 2010 December Daily right here and 2009.  Couldn't find 2008 in it's entirety, but here's a day with some pages from that year's book.

I'm planning to use a mix of products for my book this year (ie. whatever I can find in my stash), but I'll probably use the Nikki Sivils Gingerbread Land collection for the majority of it... 

To add a little more interest & dimension to the cover, I used my Glossy Accents inside all the circles (you know I love that stuff)...

There's also a SRM Merry Christmas sentiment on there (well, of course!).  Speaking of SRM Stickers... check out their blog today for details on how to apply for their design team!  A new call has been posted today!

Before you get too excited about this book (because I know you're on the edge of your seats right now), please note the simplicity of all the pages.  I'm using some Becky Higgins 12x12 divided page protectors, cut down to size, so I can just stick my photos + journaling spots into place.  Quick & easy... hopefully without too much thought.  LOL 

Anyone else doing a December Daily this year?  Link me up in the comments.  Would love to see yours!

"...bad decisions, that's alright... welcome to my silly life..."

It's finished.  It's thick, too.  Was beginning to think I might need bigger rings, but I think I'm going to leave it as is.  It's such an undertaking to get this thing accomplished every year, especially considering the timing of it during the craziness of the holidays PLUS some mad CHA deadline creating going on.  I'm always SO glad I did it though.  There's no way I would document all the detail of our daily life in my normal scrapbooking of events that occur.  It always makes me want to do more of a daily journal all year, but then I wake up from that nightmare-of-a-thought & come back to reality.  Ummmmmm... no.    

 

 

  

 

 

 

 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santa signed the bottom of Bryn's note she had left for him with his hot chocolate, cookies & carrots for the reindeer.  She was pretty excited when she saw it on Christmas morning.  

Sigh... going to miss all this innocence.  If only it could last forever... 

Time to finish this project up...

I'm in the middle of finishing up this December mini book today.  If you've missed any of it, you can find all the pages here.  The last couple years I made one of these books, I finished the last page on the 25th.  I'm half-way thinking I may just finish on the 31st this year since we have so many things going on this last week, but we'll see if that works out...

 

 

 
 
Now that I've put that thought out there, I'm thinking maybe I don't really want the extra work & the 25th will be just fine! 

Have a great week!

Loca, loca, loca...

I think I officially finished up my Christmas shopping yesterday, thanks to a stop with friends at a nearby store after lunch yesterday.  I quickly ran into the grocery store after that before heading back home & ran into a friend who was in my Spin class that morning.  I, of course, was still wearing my clothes from that morning, as I still hadn't been home since I left the house at 9:15.  I'm sure she was thinking, "It's 2pm... class was at 9:30.  Would you go home & take a shower for pete's sake?"   

Then last night, one of our guest bedrooms became a workshop.  We keep that door locked during this time, so I don't have to find crazy hiding places in the house & then Bryn won't go in there.  One day she'll figure out how to unlock the door, but until then it works.  Wrapping paper was everywhere... and there may have been a couple wine glasses + a bowl of popcorn on the floor too.  I was wrapping gifts on the floor like everyone else in the world.  I only play a professional wrapper on TV!  Bob was literally sweating putting together one of Bryn's gifts.  Thank goodness I delegated that job to him.  I did enough sweating in Spin class yesterday.  And, yes, I did eventually take a shower.  ;-)   

The wrapping is almost done & I'm still waiting for a couple gifts to be delivered via my friendly UPS driver.  He knows me so well he yells, "Hi Deana!" when he sees me in the grocery store parking lot.  Of course he doesn't pronounce my name right, but as long as he brings me the goods I don't care.  Did I mention I like to shop online?  LOL

 

 

Bryn's last day of school is tomorrow & her Christmas Winter party is tomorrow afternoon.  I still need to get that ornament craft ready to go.  Adding that to the list of things making my head spin right now.  I know I'm in good company though, aren't I?

Now taking applications for an assistant...

Just a quick post before running, finishing up some more Nikki Sivils' projects & then heading up to school to take individual photos of all the students in Bryn's class for the ornament craft at her party next week. 

A few more completed pages...

 

 

 

 

Somehow in the midst of everything going on this week creatively-speaking, I'm managing to stay current on this project.  Granted it's nothing fancy, but it's current & will get finished by month end so that's all that matters!  If you've missed any of the days and care to see the book in it's entirety, it's here.

We have a busy weekend planned... going out to dinner tonight, my favorite 75-minute Zumba class tomorrow morning, TWO parties to attend tomorrow night while Bryn is at home with a babysitter & then Bob's niece coming in town to stay one night with us on Sunday.  I suppose I better clean the house a bit before then, too.  We won't even mention the fact that I still have more shopping to do & then of course it all needs to be wrapped.  In serious need of an assistant here.  I think I've made that statement every day this week!  Accckkkkk!!! 

Have a great weekend!

Clearly I've been sniffing too much glue stick...

You know you're overly involved in the world of scrapbooking when your Spin class instructor says to everyone as the next song is beginning, "Have you heard this new song by..."  and you think to yourself, "Huh?  Did she just say Basic Grey?"  And then she yells it again (because apparently we all had blank stares on our faces), "You guys remember Macy Gray, right?"  Yes, of course.  That makes WAY more sense. 

Anyway, just taking a break from CHA projects to get caught up on my December Daily.  Funny how keeping this book going is a pressing matter, yet I still have that dang Austria mini sitting on my craft table only partially completed.  Hmmmm. 

 

 

 

 

Will put up a link to the entire book soon.  Or probably later.  Much later.  LOL   

Bryn has her Christmas honor choir concert tonight.  Looking forward to watching her perform!