{discovering} life

Layout Share....

Howdy! Sorry I've been MIA - I had so many thoughts and things I wanted to share and then every time I thought about coming and posting...my mind went blank. LOL! Been busy here - creating, watching the mush-balls (my kids) and cleaning this house. Saturday all we did was clean the kids rooms - went through their closets, clothes, reorganzied, moved their furniture around...it took forever, but they both look so cute. Today after church, we went up to PineView lake - the kids loved throwing rocks in the river and stuff. Lots of great pictures too! Love that!

I wanted to share this layout that I recently finished for Elizabeth Bunney - she donated money to the Women to Women Fundraiser that Karen Russell had on her blog back in May. Karen drew her name as a winner - and I got to create a layout for her. She sent me the cute pictures and some thoughts and I got working. It took us awhile to get photos, journaling and what not...and then I got busy so it took me awhile. ((I'm sending her some extra goodies to hopefully help make up for it!)) So, here is my layout for her.

It came together totally different than I had planned...but I had already changed papers and played around way to long so this is what happened. LOL! Used the new Making Memories Cheeky Line on this layout - cute cute new papers! Not many embellishments - the paper was busy enough so didn't do too much. I hope she likes it! :)

Anyway - finishing up a layout for a BHG assignment and working on one last assignment for Basic Grey (they change their designers every few months so I'm technically not a Sponsored Designer for them anymore). It was fun though - totally in awe over their new papers - delicious!

Hope you all had a good weekend! Off to bed - I'll be a better blogger this week! Hugs!

Just FYI.....

Last night I was sending some emails and cruisin' the net for a second and found the new Scenic Route papers and American Crafts papers in stock at Scrapgal. Yep, I spent too much $$ and bought quite a bit SR. I'm trying to be better - didn't buy every paper but did buy 2 of those cool circle ones with the grid behind it. Love those. I also got some cool Chipboard letters that I've never seen before - they were pricey $10 - ouch!!! Hope they are big and worth it. Not sure who they are by.

Also....any Cali readers? My Dad is throwing the opening pitch at the Dodgers Baseball game tonight - so if your in the area - go!! I wish that I could of! I'm sure he'll do great - what a neat opportunity! :)

Alright - gotta run! Quick post! Say hello! Tell me what your fav CHA items are...:)

More CHA goodies!

Just wanted to share a few more things that I love:

Fancy Pants Big Board Chipboard: YUMMA! 12x12 size with awesome designs! Totally cool!

Basic Grey Lily Kate and Gypsy: Too die for! Love them both! Those colors in Gypsy are awesome - love every single one of those patterns. Can't wait to play with these! And their new chipboards: the numbers, shapes and small alpha - love it! :)

Making Memories Cheeky Line: Love the playful colors! This is gonna be a keeper! LOL! Love the big chipboard shapes and sizes, the ribbon, the cool clips...great line! Also love the wall words - how cool! :)

Autumn Leaves: LOVED everything in this booth! Total eye candy for one! But the products - love them! Papers, incredible stamps (like 20 new sets - wowsers!) and more. Wonderful released from them. Too see tons of great picts from their release, check out this great report on this blog. (Scroll up to see all the products). Here are a few picts too:

More things I loved: Fontwerks (loved the wood mounted stamps (you may have to scroll down a bit)- still need to see the rest of their release but I'm sure it's awesome). Loved the new Hero Arts Monogram acrylic stamps - cool ideas there! All 7 Gypsies, still in love with the AC flowers, some Chatterbox papers, and more.

Of course I'll buy it all - I spend way to much on all of this. But, what can I say, I love it all and gotta have it all! I seriously cannot wait to use some of this stuff! OHHH...and the new Bohemia line from My Mind's Eye is incredible - transparent frames, incredible papers - wow! Totally in love with that line! Gotta go to their site and check it out if you haven't already!

So......

Last week was a rough week with Madisyn sick all week. My hubby told me that Saturday was 'Robyn Day'. He got me a pedicure that morning and then told me to just go out and do whatever. I went to the scrapbook store, JoAnns, an antique store (found some cool vintage buttons), Children's Place (just opened and got the cutest outfit for Madi), the bookstore (soooo miss Barnes and Noble - I really wish we had one here), treated myself to a yummy Pork Cafe Rio Salad (LOVE) and did some other things. Oh, bought a new down comforter for our bed...talk about nice! :)

Cleaned up my studio a bit yesterday. Oh, yesterday at Church, I had to say the opening prayer in sacrament and as I walked back to sit down, Madi says loudly, "Good job Mommy. You are such a good girl!" Everyone laughed. It was soooo cute! Love that little girl! :)

Anyway - hope you all had a great weekend! I need to work, work, work this week! Got lots to do! Hugs!

CHA goodies! :)

So, Madi has been sick since Saturday night. No fun at all! She has a high fever - for some reason it will not go away. I was thinking it was just a body flu - but geez - do they usually last this long? I feel so bad for her! She's sleeping horribly - so guess who else is...yep, me! Up with her all the time. I really hope she gets better soon - I'm so scared I'm gonna get it and that Hudson is. Hate how it always gets passed around it seems like.

Anyway, I'm seeing sneak peeks of product coming out at CHA-S this summer and I just love it! This is one of my favorite times of the year - always watching all the product be unveiled! I wish I could of gone - hopefully the next one. I'm hoping someone will post some great picts of the booths and stuff so I can drool along with everyone! LOL!

Here are somethings that I'm loving though that I've found (Click on the images to enlarge them. Sorry if this is showing up weird - I can't get it to lay out right.):

These papers for Scenic Route. Hello - do you see the lined/ledger check in the background! LOVE! These will be something I'll use over and over - I just know it!

These papers from 7 Gypsies look awesome! LOVE those colors!

These new flowers from American Crafts - plastic, paper and FELT! LOVE THAT! So excited to get all of these! (There are a lot more - just showing a few here.)

Anything Heidi Swapp...bling, chipboard (again - ledger chipboard - in LOVE!!), chipboard tags, and more...love those journaling spots!

Stamps from Autumn Leaves...I'm dying to see all the others. This was just a peek! :)

Yummers from Making Memories! :)

Too die for scalloped edged (LINED) papers from Karen Russell! Love all the color in her lines lately! I'll be stocking up on these papers for sure!

I'm excited to see the rest of Fontwerks release too. Love that Karen Russell is doing some stamps...and the sneak peeks have been cool of everything else too!

Lots more to come! I'll be looking for picts - if you find any places or blogs please link me up! I'll share more favs shortly! Let me know what your loving too! Love this time! :)

Hugs!

I need some help!!

Please! :)

I need to get a new computer! We've had this Dell for like 8 1/2 years and I'm sooo sick of it. It is so slow when I'm trying to work on photos or things like that.

So, I'm thinking of switching to an Apple. And I need some advice. My hubby recently bought me a nice flat screen monitor, wireless remote and keyboard. So, I'm trying to decide if I just get the Mac Mini or the iMac. I kinda would like to just get the iMac but it's a lot more - just wondering if it's worth it to get it all now anyway. I know a bunch of my friends have Apples - so you better be posting! :)

Also...any recommendations on add-ons or upgrades? I need to get Microsoft Word on there - how do I do that? I only found a Office pack that was like $350 - is just Word available anywhere on it's own for an Apple?

And.......am I gonna be able to figure it out? LOL! I'm quite computer savvy but switching to a whole new system scares me a bit. I know my Dell inside and out. So, let me know. My sis got one and switched and she loves it. So....I'd love to hear your opinions. I'm needing some advice!

Thanks much!

Hope everyone had a good weekend! I'm totally in love with all the CHA (trade show) sneak peeks that are out. I've found some good ones here:

Lifetime Moments MB
The Scrap Spot MB
Scrap Etc. Blog

I'm lovin' so many things....I'll be back to post links to things and what I'm most excited about. I know there are gonna be lots of goodies comin' out! Love it! Have a good one! :)

Madisyn's Dr. Appt.

I wrote this big post the other day and due to Typepad issues - it didn't work or something. And I'm so lame I didn't save it for later. Oh well!

I've been wanting to update on Madisyn's Dr. Appt. two weeks ago. Before we went, I had to fill out this large stack of questionnaires and more. When we got to the appt., he had charts and things all printed out from everything I turned it. Madi's social issues was high and then in the middle, the bars spiked all around the anxiety issues. It was like a big curve. Interesting.

We talked, he did an Asperger's test with us and more. The conclusion was interesting.

He said that he would diagnose her as PDD-NOS. Which is on the autism spectrum...just on the lowest end of it. Which is good. When she was originally diagnosed two years ago (I can't believe it's been that long) it was High-Functioning (which I found out isn't even a legit term LOL) Autism/Aspergers. Interesting. So, good news I guess. She's improved. A lot. On the Aspergers test, she was in the range for Aspergers for her social (which surprises me cause I've felt like she's been doing so much better with all of that) and then borderline for everything else. So, he said he wouldn't diagnose her with that.

He did diagnose her with Anxiety - he said it was pretty extreme - which we totally agree. It has been a huge struggle for us lately (she's always had it - but it's just so much more prevalent lately). So, we started her on Prozac - small amount to see if it helps. I've done pretty good hiding it in Choc. Pudding and Root-beer - but now she won't eat either. She goes through these phases with eating. We've missed the last two days which is NOT good...so I'm just gonna have to put it down her throat. And trust me - that is not a pretty sight! Pure chaos!

She also is showing signs of OCD - which she has forever. So, we are going to watch it and see if it progresses more or not. Just good to get some more defined answers now that she is a bit older. Felt good - felt strange too -

The Dr. recommended some books and I couldn't find one, but I ordered these off of Amazon the other day and they should be here any day now:

Freeing your Child from Anxiety
A Slant of Sun: One Child's Courage
The Boy who Couldn't Stop Washing (Recommended by Dr.)

The other two looked good so I'm anxious to dig into these. So anxious to read them. I haven't read many autism books - which makes me feel like such a bad mommy - so I'm hoping now that I understand her diagnosis better and understand what she is needing - that these will help give me some more insights and understanding.

So, there is the run down on her appt. New things to study up on and to focus on helping her with. Hoping that the medicine will have a positive effect on her and help her with so many different aspects of her life.

Hope everyone is having a good week!

Winners! And New 3 Product Challenge....

Ok, so Madisyn helped me draw the winners this morning. Thanks to everyone that played...it's so fun to see what everyone's favorites and must-haves are! So....the winners are....

Becky and Christi!!!

Email me with your addresses and what book you want ok! Congrats!!

Today is Monday...

So, I'm posting a new 3 Product Challenge today! Amy and I have both been super busy with CHA assignments and other things we've got to be working on right now. So, sorry that we haven't been posting a new challenge every Monday. We are hoping to get back into it after CHA.

Here is my layout for this week (which was the inspiration)...

I kinda cheated with the challenge this week...in that I picked an older layout I created (Nov-Dec. sometime) and picked three things off the layout for the challenge! :) So, the challenge is to use:

1. Use 3 different colors of cardstock.
2. Staples
3. Metal Rimmed Tag

Be sure to post your layout somewhere and let us know. Here is a link to the thread in the Pub and here is a link to my layout on Two Peas. Hope you'll all come out and play!!

OH.....

I'm going to leave this challenge open for two weeks...and for all of those that participate, I'm going to put your names in a drawing and send some goodies too. So, get creating! Thanks for playing along with us all this time!

I've got more to say...photos from Lake Powell, Madi's appointment and more...so I'll be back shortly. Gotta run! Hugs!

Wanna Play??

OK, so I know I've been neglecting this little blog lately...just been so busy! We went to Lake Powell on Sunday and I got home late last night. I got lots to work to do and I've got LOTS on my mind...lots I want to come and post about. So, I'll be on here much more...got lots to say! (:

In the meantime, I came home to over 100 emails so I've got lots of catching up to do. I'll get to you soon - promise. But...I gotta get lots done so I'm gonna play a little game with ya!

Wanna play?

Go to the Making Memories site and copy and paste a link to your favorite MM product right now. Or, something that your itching to get your hands on. I'll draw TWO names and send you each a copy of one of the books below:

Ribbonrie
or
Paper Cachet

And don't worry...if you have those books...still play! If I draw your name, I'll send you some MM goodies instead.

So, link me up to your favs or your 'must-have' product! I love seeing what people love and are using right now!

Come play! I'll draw the names on SUNDAY! Game on! (: ((And I'll be back soon to post about Madi's appt. and more!)) Thanks for your sweet posts!

Hugs,
Robyn

I'm a bad blogger! (:

Geez - where does time go? Sorry that I haven't been a good blogger lately! Thanks for those of you that still come on by and say hi - you all rock! (:

I've just been busy! Had lots to do this week and probably won't be back on to post until later next week. Just have to get stuff done and dealing with these kiddos too! (: Thanks for all your nice comments - hope to spill the beans someday! Hehehe!

So, on Wednesday, I got the new Stampin' Up! catalog in the mail. Wow! Best catalog I've ever seen put out by them. I am totally impressed! Lots and lots of things I really want to get! BIG shout out to my friend AMY who designs for them. Her pages and cards in there are sooo awesome - and I believe she did all the artwork on the cover! Yahoo AMY! So happy for you! Your stuff rocks girl - totally inspiring! (: Love ya! Anyway -been totally consumed by that the past few days. Today was the first day to order and I placed a NICE order - can't wait! New stamps always make me happy! (:

Also....Thursday we went to the Dr. (psychologist) for Madisyn. Wow - what an appointment. I'll come back and post about all that happened, new diagnosis' and more. Very interesting to say the least!

Well - gotta run! Short little update. Will be back soon! Have a wonderful 4th of July if I don't post before then! Hugs!

Rb