Learning To Drive!

Hello!! It's snowy outside which means it's cozy inside and since I'm just sitting, I thought what better time to do a layout I've been wanting to do. Tiffany is starting a new challenge blog in Feb called "Child's Play Challenges" and is currently running a DT call. We were given this image ...

And asked to make a layout based on it. This is what I came up with! I chose 2 photo's that I thought were fun (look at Ashleigh's face!!) She had never driven before and had so much fun!! I used my Memories Suite "Classmates" paper and embellishments. Love how it turned out!!

Our Pups

These are actually from last Christmas, but I just had to share again!!!! I've met some new friends over this past year and I knew you'd get a kick out of these. These are our boys, Buddy and Riley. Bud's (first 2 pics) my suck. I always wanted that dog that followed you everywhere, ya know?? Well, I found him in Buddy. Riley's a big galoot lol and a very funny one at that!!!! Hope everyone's well!! We're actually getting snow right now!!! First major snow of the year .. go figure it came AFTER Christmas!!! Have a great night!

Merry (belated) Christmas!!

From our home to yours, Merry Christmas!!!!

I had this pre-posted for yesterday, so not sure what happened, but hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!! 

Holiday Simplicity

It's Christmas Eve!!! So much to do, but you didn't think I'd miss a day, did ya?? I have to keep up with my friend Stef, who won't miss a day either!! Ok, I MIGHT miss tmw!! So, guess what!! It's time for a new challenge at Paper Lovin' Gals this week!! We were given a photo and I loved it so much, I incorporated it right into my layout! I thought this would be a great "opening" layout for this years Christmas photo's.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday.

I did it AGAIN!

Oh man .. I did it AGAIN!! If you haven't had a chance, check out my text blunder HERE. So last night, I send Andrew (my son) a text saying "Dinner" .. I get a text from my BROTHER "Q'ues ce cest??" (no he's not french, just likes to think he's either that or spanish LOL!!) I'm thinking, WHAT??? Oh man .. I text HIM (who's an hour away) that dinner was ready!! I give up!!! "They're coming to take me away ha ha!!"

THEN, I take out the turkey, come to put in fridge and go FLYING through my kitchen .. I (yes ME) left the stinkin' mop out and I tripped over the handle. Keith came flying in from the garage, Ashleigh down the stairs - guess it was a very loud fall. Here I was in a crumpled heap on the kitchen floor, TOTALLY embarrassed because I left the stinkin' mop there in the first place!! So, I have a sore knee, thumb .. what a night!!

On that note, here's a little Thank You card I did for my daycare parents for my Christmas gifts (I was spoiled!!) And I did it with my Memories Suite! Cool huh?? K, I better get baking .. ton's to do!! Have a GREAT day friends! Oh and for another laugh, chk this out!!

Holiday Eating Tips (LOL!!!)

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do.. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate and wine in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"  

Losing My Mind .... !!!

Ok ... so I think the hustle and bustle has caught up with me .. lol!!! Here’s one that will make you laugh out loud!!! We had invited friends for Christmas dinner as they have no family. We had a feeling they wouldn’t come as they have their traditions on christmas day, but wanted to pass on the invite. So, i get an email from Nicole wishing us all the best and “see ya in the new year” so i figured they weren’t coming. Was msg’ing back and forth with hubby on BBM and son sends me a msg that his coat needs sewn (has the boy EVER seen me sew??LOL!) so i reply to him and then send BBM to hubby – here’s conversation ..

ME: so i assume lorne and nicole aren’t coming

BBM: what? where?

ME: here .. you know, for dinner

BBM: i have no idea? how would i know?

ME: well, she emailed us both about the holidays

BBM: how would i get email? i don’t have it?

ME: what?? what are you talking about? do you not always get email?

BBM: no, it costs money doesn’t it? i don’t get internet

at this pt i’m thinking, omg, i’ve lost my mind .. what on earth is he talking about????

ME: i’m confused ... did you not tell me to email u grocery list and i know you get email ..

BBM: What??

ME: nicole emailed us both ... you have email, i’m SO confused ..

BBM: MOM!!! wth are you talking about??

OMG!! thank god i wasn’t saying something i shouldn’t be when i was texting my son the WHOLE time!! LOL!! and he’s in class to boot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that you're ROTFL, be sure to check out my earlier post (Teachers Gifts) HERE!! It's a great and inexpensive gift idea!!

"Time For Tea" - Teacher's Gifts

Good morning!! First off - BIG reminder we have a challenge, blog candy AND DT call going on over at my Lasting Memories challenge blog!!! Check it out when you have a sec!! Now on to today's post ... I wanted to share this years teacher's gifts with you today. I got the idea from my cousin Nancy. This is such a nice yet inexpensive gift idea! I found out Ashleigh's teacher is not a coffee drinker, so we went with tea and I got a matching canister and filled it with Werther's and Riessen's. The CTMH stamp I just bought was just perfect. I had some paper called "Tuscany" from Michaels, which again, thought was perfect for something like this!! The second one is the one Ashleigh did all by herself. We have her teacher and then I made one for her Kumon instructor as well. She just started a couple weeks ago, but I thought it would be nice. So, that's it for today! Have a good one!!!

Canisters are both from dollarama, so each gift MAY cost about $5-6 total!!! 

Happy Birthday Sis!!!

Good morning!! Today I would like to send HUGE birthday wishes to my little sister, who turns 30!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY Lee Ann!!!! May your day be filled with love, laughter, family, friends and most importantly, good health!! Enjoy your day today!!!!

Entering this layout in FBW #183 - Open with a butterfly, fairy or angel

Family Memories

Hello!! Over at 2 Sister Challenge Blog, there's a "Kid's Christmas" challenge and there's also a new (very yummy looking) challenge at Paper Lovin' Gals this week!! Check out this "yummy" photo!!!

Using my MyMemories Suite, I came up with this digital layout. I just love these photo's and thought it was perfect for the inspirational photo and the title of the PLG's challenge "Christmas Treats YUM!" Ashleigh with her cousins and their gingerbread house. Looks pretty yummy huh??? Have a great day all!!!

LMCB #69 - All About The Holidays ...

Good morning!!! It's a new challenge at Lasting Memories today and we're going on a little Christmas vacation for 2 weeks as well, so you have 2 weeks to join us!! We have a DT call going on, a winner for last weeks challenge AND a giveaway this challenge too!! Whew!! There's a LOT going on over there!! This weeks challenge is an inspirational photo (below) and we have a sketch if you'd like as well. 

This photo says Christmas to me. Relaxing, calm - it's just such a sweet photo. I chose to do our last retreat group photo. The place we have our retreats is very calming for me and I absolutely love it there. We have wonderful friends and the photo was taken in front of the tree, so I thought it was prefect!

Be sure to hop on over and check out ALL the details at Lasting Memories. I'm looking for a few new DT members, so be sure to try out!! Have a GREAT day!!

Family Portraits for a Friend & Giveaway Reminder!!

Good morning friends!! Wow, is the countdown on or what!? Can't wait for Christmas, it's my favorite time of the year. I just wanted to share something with you this morning .. most of you know I'm trying to take my photography hobby to a different level and I have done 3 photo shoots since November. What a surprise this morning to find my friend Kelli posted hers and they're framed and look awesome!! Please have a peek at Kelli's post HERE. It's just so amazing to me to see my work in frames not to mention online!!

Thank you Kelli for the opportunity!! Was a lot of fun .. tell your hubby he should smile more though LOL!! Beautiful family my friend!!!

A little reminder too!! See this??

Hop on over to Lasting Memories challenge blog to see how you can have a chance to win it!! HURRY!! Challenge closes Sat, Dec 17th at 9pm EST!!

"Grandma Doesn't Care" A Shadow Box Layout Gift

Here's another gift I was asked to make. This is from Eden to her grandma. The poem is so sweet, you should be able to see it it you click on the photo to enlarge it. What a doll!! I can't wait for Lisa (Eden's mom) to see this tmw!!! I have it in a shadow box now and just really sets the whole thing off. Love it!!! I even impressed myself with this one!

Paper Lovin' Gals #9 - Home For The Holidays ...

This week at Paper Lovin' Gals, they have a new challenge!! It's an inspirational "Home For The Holidays" photo ....

When I look at that photo I see the colors as well as winter, fun in the snow .. so, this is what I came up with. Ashleigh turned 11 in Oct, but since we were away on vacation, my mother treated her to Muskoka Wildlife Centre, a place we'd never been. Was really cool - a long drive, but worth it. I have more pages to come .. we also had some fun taking pics of each other throughout the visit as well. I don't EVER wear a hat, but man, it was cold and my mother handed me my Christmas gift, which was a hat and thank GOD bc it was COLD!! Turns out, I love these pics!! Who knew!!

So hop on over to Paper Lovin' Gals and join the fun!! See ya there!! 

Lasting Memories Challenge #68 - Snowflakes Are Falling!!

Morning all!! It's Sunday and another new challenge at Lasting Memories! I love this one!! It's all about winter and snowflakes this week. Yesterday we were at Muskoka Wildlife Centre and here's some shots I got of Ashleigh. Aren't these awesome?? Love them!!!! I kept this layout simple bc the photo's really don't need words. I'm also going to do some more pages, so stay tuned. We have a little something going on over at LMCB today, so be sure to come and check us out!!!

Christmas Cards for Grandma

Each year I take a handful of Christmas cards to my grandma to give out to the special ladies in the nursing home. I'm heading up to see her tmw, so just finished these. The lighting isn't the best, so they don't show as well as they look and the stickles are still a little wet, but wanted to show you what I came up with. I added Martha Stewart snow glitter to the snowmen and then fun flock on the bottom for now .. everything else is CTMH. The sentiment is what will be inside. Have a great night!!

Layout in a Shadow Box

Hi there!! Well, we woke to a blanket of white this morning. Was nice. But ohhhh, so cold. I don't like that part. I'm down a daycare kiddo the rest of this week and all of next, so I had a chance (sort of, between chasing a 1 and 2 yr old lol) to get a homemade gift done. I did a layout and put it in a shadow box. I'm letting the receiver add her own pics, so I'll include the rest of the embellishments with the gift. What do ya think?? Just an FYI - Michaels has their frames on, this one included "Buy 1 get one for a Cent" till tmw!!!

Gift From Nancy

(this is my second post today, be sure to scroll down to see the advent pieces I did for a friend!)

Last Friday, we had our annual Christmas Club party. My friend Kelli and I host a monthly scrapbook club and then we get together at Christmas for dinner or something like that. This year we did dinner out and a gift exchange, but it had to be something handmade. You should have seen the gifts!! There were 6 of us for dinner. My cousin Nancy got a recipe book from Christine that she had cut out and even had some of her own receipes in it, Nancy just has to put it together, there was a box of handmade Christmas cards, I gave a 4 pg pre-made LO kit with an already done circle album, just add pics, and a little handmade box with 3 small cards, there was also another gift with homemade jam, candle, book, I received a jar of homemade pepper jelli from Kelli (watch her blog for the recipe if she has a chance to get it on there!) and Nancy made up an awesome gift that Kelli received and I commented on. Well, last night, Nancy called and asked if she could come by. When she got here, she handed me a bag and said "Someone dropped this by my place for you" I was so excited to see what it was!! The herbs are from Nancy's garden, so nice and fresh and I just love it. I just wanted to send a huge thank you to Nancy!!! Love it!!

Advent Tags for Eden

Morning friends!! Remember yesterday I posted about Christmas tags for Eden? Here's the rest of the 'order'. Lisa asked me to make the pieces for an advent calendar. Eden's only 2, so she won't realize it's late. Lisa wanted the numbers backed on to Christmas shapes, so I came up with this. She bought an over the door shoe hanger and these will go on the pockets. I was going to trim around the black edges, but I thought I would leave it and see what she decides as they'll actually be a perfect fit to the pocket. I think they turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself!!!! Was fun putting it all together. I didn't add a lot to them bc it is for a 2 yr old and we all know how curious they can be. Thanks for coming by today, I really appreciate it. Hope you have a wonderful day!

It's a Cat's Christmas at Digi Darla's this week!!

Hi all!! We have a new challenge at Digi Darla's this week!! It's a Cat's Christmas! We're being sponsored by Priscilla Styles as well! Super fun!! Here's one of Priscilla's images - isn't this adorable?? Too cute!! For this weeks challenge, I had to get creative as I didn’t have a printer at the time I put it together. I saved my image and opened in PSE and just added a little punch of red throughout my image. I then resaved and opened in my digital scrapbook program “My Memories” software and created this page. Thank you to Priscilla for this darling image!

Now it's your turn to get over to Digi Darla's and join the fun!!! You could be a winner, you never know!! You have to play along though!! Check out all the details HERE!!!

While you're visiting me, be sure to chk out the little Christmas tags I made HERE!!!

Christmas Tags for Eden

I was asked by a friend to make her daughter's "Santa" tags, so this is what I came up with. This is one of my favorite Christmas stamps from Close To My Heart. These little elves are adorable. I cut out a 4" ornament shape with my "Art Philosophy" CTMH cartridge and then added some stickles on the branches and colored my little elf in prisma's. I didn't add ribbon in case Lisa has something specific in mind to match her gifts. Hope everyone has a great day. It's pretty dreary here. I'd rather have snow than all this rain.