{discovering} life

Organizing!

Last week I finally got to my closet and I've been meaning to post pictures all week! It felt so good to clean it out!! I put the new shelves in and I have so much more room and I KNOW where everything is! That is such a good feeling! All my embossing powders in a bucket, every thing were it should be - not in 3 different places. It feels good! I'm really embarrased to show the before photos - when I moved here - I just kept shoving things in there - you'll understand why it was bugging me SOOOO bad and I was dying to clean it up! Here are before and after photos:

Before (don't laugh!!):

After:

I bought the shelves at Target and got all this done in a day - taking out, putting up shelves, and putting it all back together - I was so surprised it didn't take longer.

Anyway -just wanted to share. It feels so good! And my apothecary cabinet from Pottery Barn  has been one of my best purchases ever! Seriously, get it! LOL! I love that I can pull out a drawer, put it on my desk, get what I need and then put it back. It has been the best thing ever! LOVE IT!!!

Gotta go but wanted to share! Thanks to all of you that left praise on my layout - thanks soooo much! Have a good day!

3 Products Challenge Week #1

Amy Howe and I were chatting last week and were talking about creating, inspiration and such. I told her about how Maggie and I used to pick 3 items that we both had to use on a layout and create! It always got our creative juices flowing and was so fun to see what eachother did. Maggie and I since have been doing the Fashion File Challenges and with her move and everything we haven't been able to keep up but we will start again as soon as she gets up and rolling in her new house.

Anyway......

Here is my layout for Amy's and my challenge, Week #1:

It would not scan well and the lighting was bad for this photo, but here it is anyway. Hopefully you get the idea. The title says, "Beautiful Flower girl" the 'girl' got cut off! LOL!

I also posted it here at Two Peas.

If you want to play, come and join us this week. We posted a thread about it in the Pub at Two Peas as well!

Thanks for looking!

Rb

Scrappin!

Been loving creating lately! I just completed two pages that I'm submitting to CK and just loved them both. I feel like I've been in a groove lately and I'm really loving it. It feels good!

Ok, so I've been shopping like crazy! Those that know me, know that I love to shop and I have a hard time stopping! LOL! I've been buying scrappin' stuff like crazy - and hello - I don't need any more! I get so caught up in 'new' products - they totally inspire me! Love them!

Tomorrow, I have coming in the mail from Scrappers Bliss all the new Scenic Route and Chatterbox from CHA! Totally love those two lines and I'm just dying to get them in my hands to play!

About two weeks ago, I got a big box of buttons from here. Yep, bought to many. I need to show you how many I have - you'd die laughing at me! It's an obsession lately - buttons! It all started with the Autumn Leaves button packs - then the amazing Making Memories buttons (which I wish I had a whole jar of!!) and now these ones! Love them all! I can't stop using buttons on my projects! Amy and I were chatting the other day and we created a challenge to use up our buttons and two other things....I almost have mine done and we'll post soon! Too fun!

Also got all the new Basic Grey awhile back and been wanting to dig into that big time too! Love that Urban Couture line - love it love it love it!

I also got the Jenni Bowlin Kits for February - yep - both of them! So cool! Love how she put everything together - my kinda kit! I've never done a online kit club before, but I just couldn't pass her's up! I'm counting down the days for her March kit to go up! Talk about yum!

What else....LOL! Too much I tell ya! I love it all! I still need to organize my closet but I just haven't wanted to make that big of a mess to organize it all! I'm not really busy right now with assignments for MM so I'm working on layouts to submit to magazines. It feels good to play! To create and have fun! Lovin' it!

Anyway - not much to say today! Just that I can't stop checking all my online stores for what's new! So silly of me!

Have you bought anything new lately? Or are you dying to get your hands on something right now? Share! I love to hear!

Hugs! Have a good day!

Welcome Baby Ella!!!

My oldest sister in NYC had her 5th baby on Valentines Day!!! My little neice, Ella Marie, was 8 lbs. 7 oz. She had a hard delivery but she's here and doing well now! (Sorry for the little picture - I'm hoping they'll send some good ones soon!) I'm so bummed that I can't be there to help my sister out and to see that little sweety! Hopefully it won't be too long!

So, is anyone scrappin' today? What are you working on assignments or just for fun? I feel like I got some mojo yesterday and really want to create some stuff today. As my hubby left this morning, he asked me what was on my plate today? I shrugged - cause I know I'm wanting to scrap today! He started listing things off that I could do around that house and I lovingly shoved him out the door! LOL!

I've been working on cleaning up my studio too! It feels so good! I can actually see some of the floor now! I decided to add just little hanging tags to my white apothecary unit and it looks so cute! I think the metal labels would of been too much. So, working on getting things organized! I still need to rip out my closet and put in the new shelves and organize all that. But, not today. I want to do some fun things today!

And.....as a reminder, it's the last two weeks for the Stampin' Up! sell-a-bration event! Spend $50 and get a free stamp set - they are sooo cute - you'll want to get these before they are gone! Also, if you spend $50, I'll give you free shipping! Great time to get some goodies! Email me if you want more info or want to place an order.

Well, I think that's it for today! Hudson is sick - he's got a horrible cough and was up throwing up last night and up really early. So, I hope he'll take a goooooood nap today! (: Hope you all have a great day!!

A Beautiful Autism Poem by Thena

I saw Thena post this on Two Peas today and had to read it. It's a beautiful poem about Autism and just brought tears to my eyes. I'm posting here so that I will be able to reference it to, but wanted to share with all of you. Leave a post on Thena's blog if you have a chance!

For Those in Pain

Just a little note to say
God sent me to you today
With a loving little note
And also a hug or two
To let you know that He is here
And how much He loves you.
He knows your heart is hurting
For He sees inside
He knows the sleepness nights you've had
And about the tears you've cried.
We do not understand the "why"
And wonder at the "how come"
As we look at the miracle
Of your precious little one.
Wrap this little one in love
And treasure them each day
For they are a treasure
That God has sent your way.
There will be times of trial
When you wonder what you should do
But know that at the end of the day
God will have seen you through.
Rejoice in each milestone reached
By the little one in your care
And know that those who love you
This excitement of yours will share.
For each moment of realization,
Each completed and learned task
And each precious word spoken
Brings rejoicing to a mother's loving heart
That is hurting but not broken.

Thena

Isn't that awesome! I couldn't help but cry!!

On another note, we had a great time last night. This new resturant opened up and it's a fondue place - it was soooo good! Cheese and salad and dessert - toblerone - oh my gosh! We were in heaven! It was all so good - we'll definetly go back. It was fun to do something a little different. Then, the movie, Firewall, and it was so good! Not a dull moment - always suspenseful! Just my opinion but we both really liked it! If you see it, let me know what you thought too!

Tonight, our ward is doing a Valentine's dinner and 'other stuff' (my hubby says I can't know about it....hmmmmmmm) so we are going to that. I'm really tired - been cleaning all day and made 3 huge batches of Strawberry Jam too! Wowsers - I just want to crash. My hubby just took the kids to the park for a bit (isn't he the best), so I may go lay down for a bit.

Hope you all have a great night!
Hugs!

It's my hunka-chunka's bday today!

It's my hubbies bday today! I can't believe that he is now 31! Talk about craziness! Tonight I'm gonna take him to dinner and to see the new Harrison Ford movie, Firewall. We both like him - I hope it's good. We haven't seen a move in forever it feels like!

Madisyn woke up last night at midnight and had a serious episode - probably the worst one we've ever had with her. It was so hard. She was being so agressive - thrashing her body around, kicking, just out of control. She didn't comprehend what we were saying - it was just horrible and so hard! I finally got into bed at 1:15 am and just cried. So so so hard!

I wanted to publically thank two people that have been so kind to me lately...they know why...

Amy Howe
and
Rhonna Farrer

Thanks girls! You guys are so awesome! I'm so thankful that Amy and I have become such wonderful friends - I just wish she lived next door! Thanks for everything Amy!

Well, off to run some errands and finish up some stuff for my hubby! Hope you all have a wonderful day! Hug your kids and be thankful for a good nights sleep! (:

My Fav's from CHA

THANK YOU!!! Thanks for leaving comments, saying hello and sharing your favorites with me! I'm so glad that so many of you enjoyed the photos! Lots of incredible, fun things coming out!! Thanks!

So many people have these lists up on their blogs, and it's taken me some time to get back on here, but I still wanted to share my fav's that I saw from the show.

Everything from Making Memories! I've already played with some of the new Boho line and it's beautiful! Dying over the ribbons! Check out my photos and they also have the new products up on their site now.

Basic Grey: Urban Couture is incredible! I can't stop looking at it! I'm working on a layout with it right now and just love it - and the new  rubons! Wonderful release from them! It was so fun to meet Rachel too!

I'm in love with Fontwerks! I always have been! The new releases are fabulous and the papers are incredible - can't wait to get some more to play with! I'm so addicted to stamps! LOL!

I was really impressed with the new K-Ology line from K&Company. Beautiful colors! They also had cool things in metal boxes that look so fun (see my pictures). Also loved the Flippery Jewelry kits - they were beautiful!

Loved the new American Crafts rubons - great fonts and colors!

The new Scenic Route is incredible! I've already preordered it all - and I won't tell you how many sheets of each! LOL! The Charlotte collection is by far my fav paper release! Love love love it and will be using it lots!

I always love everything Heidi Swapp releases. It was fun to see her booth in person! Loved the new roller stamps - they are bigger than I thought and they look so fun! Same with the clear stamps!

Chatterbox puts me over the top everytime they come out with a new release! Some of their new papers lines are my favs ever! Love them and I can't wait to play!!!

And Autumn Leaves...I love that company! Loved everything! Beautiful new lines for all thier collections and I loved seeing all those incredible samples up for their new books coming out! Incredible! Those girls blow me  away!!

What else....

Oh, Lil' Davis - I'm all about the glitter and bling on my layouts these days! And their new sparkle and metallic paints - I can't wait for those! Wonderful release from them! It was so fun to see Michelle too - love ya girl!

Loved the new Glittler alphas and shapes from Melissa Frances too - Carolyn is sooo nice! It was so fun to meet her in person and some of her rockin' team!

I'm sure I'll think of more! I'm such a sucker for new product - it's what inspires me. I get something new and I'm just so inspired to play! I love it! I'm sure I'm leaving some things off...I loved it all! LOL!

So - today, I'm gonna make some strawberry jam. They were on sale at the store last night so I stocked up with all the goodies to make jam. Don't really want to take the time to do it - but love it when it's done. Also, gonna try to clean up a little and be a good little house wife today! LOL!

Hope you all have a good day! I'll be better at bloggin' - promise!

Back from CHA with tons of photos to share!

I had a great time at CHA! I only went for Tuesday - I was gonna stay and go Wednesday but ended up driving home after the designer dinner that night. I had tons of fun! Loved meeting so many of you and missed a lot of people too - so sad about that! But, it was a blast to see all the new products. I've added an album with photos - there are a ton. If you look at them - I have ONE request:

PLEASE leave a comment and tell me what you like. It took me all morning to upload these and I did it for you!!! So, please post a comment if you look at them!!

AND...all you girls that said you read my blog but never post - I've met you now - come post!!! I'd love to get to know you all better! It was so fun meeting you!

OH....I've been meaning to 'toot' about this for awhile now, but I was so honored to be asked to be a part of the Friends of Fontwerks wall this year. Kah-Mei is the sweetest person - it was so fun to be able to meet her! It looks like some of my rhinestones fell off! Opps! I stamped with paint on a transparency all the brown words, then layered with another transparency and stamped bliss with pink paint. Kinda hard to see it here. Here is a photo of my project using her new stamps:

Well, gotta run! I'll be back today or tomorrow with my favs and take on some things!

Enjoy the TONS of photos! Hugs!