{discovering} life

More BUTTONS!!!

Ok, I LOVE buttons! The Autumn Leaves button bags are my best friends when I sit down to scrapbook! :) I have thousands of buttons....do I need more....heck no. But....

I got an email yesterday from this store that has the Button bags just like the AL ones but they are mostly just one color in a bag - they have some variety ones. And, they are all 50% off until Dec. 3. So, of course I had to go check it out and get some.

I bought the black, Vintage Christmas, Orange Creme and the Mango (totally into yellow and orange right now and don't have many buttons those colors).

So, I thought I'd pass it along if you want to get some buttons at a good deal. The shipping price was good too. :)

Enjoy!

1/2 Off BUTTON BAGS

Thanksgiving! :)

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We went to my in-laws for dinner. I made a cheese roll, banana bread (thanks to my hubby who did that one) and a pumpkin roll with a yummy filling. We had a good time. I was really emotional that day...remembering the Thanksgivings I had with my family...really missing them and wanting to do that again. I hope that next year we can make it work to be together - even if it's the week before Thanksgiving.

Madisyn wasn't feeling well - so they weren't the happiest bunch. This is about the best photo I got - they would not let me take many. I was bummed. Thanksgiving and not many photos...but what can you do. Enjoy the moment I guess and not worry about it. They sure are growing up though...wow! It's crazy to me how old they are getting. Hudson will be 3 next April and Madi will be 5 in January. That is nuts!

I've been so busy...busy with creating fun things and trying to get this house clean so I can get my Christmas decorations out! LOL! Am I the only one that doesn't have them out yet? I'm running off to Target to see if they have one more wreath that I already got - thought it would be pretty to have two up on the french doors to my studio. I hope they still have one left. I totally love Christmas stuff - Target is total eye candy right now!

I bought some Christmas scrapbooking stuff the other day to do this thing that I had an idea for. I'm hoping that I can get working on it. I broke the glass to this frame that I have out in our entryway with a page in it - so I had to run to Michaels to get a new piece of glass. $17 bucks for a 15x15 piece of glass - I couldn't believe it. But - it's fixed and now I want to do something cool for Christmas to put in there. I hope I can get to this week.

We put lights up on the house this weekend....first time we've ever done that and it was fun! It's fun to have them on the house - the kids just love it.

Alrighty - I'm gonna do better - I promise! :) Does anyone still read this? It seems like blog-land is kinda quiet lately - such a busy time of year. Hope your all doing well and had a great holiday! Hugs!

It's seriously an addiction!

Thanks to those that posted and emailed about my last post. Your all so sweet! I was just reflecting that day on life and all that so thanks for letting me share and be a sap. :)

I seriously need to stop spending money on this hobby. It's a serious sickness for me. I see things pop up on online stores and I get this thing in me...like this 'high'...this 'I gotta have it now' feeling and then I buy it. Then, the excitement of it coming in the mail...the anticipation. I'm so so so so so so so silly!!!

I thought I'd share some things that I'm loving right now and just couldn't live (scrapbook, heheeeee) without.

1. My Stampin' Up! set of 48 Markers. I use these all the time. I use my own handwriting a lot and I love having what ever color I need. Plus - they match all my ink pads and papers from SU!

I'm offering a great special on all Stampin' Up! orders through the end of Christmas...great Christmas presents. If your interested in knowing details, just drop me an email.

2. Quickutz. I love the 'Studio' and 'Maddie Anne' fonts...Love them! Also loving the photo corner dies (the small and larger one). I just used the larger one today with some fabric....love that!

3. This small polka dot paper from Lasting Impressions. I have been using it on everything...in all their colors. I think I should buy stock in it or something. I have a whole plastic shelf full of it.

4. Glue dots! :) I really need to find a good tape runner - ANY SUGGESTIONS? Seriously need some glue help here!

5. Photo Corners...Heidi Swapp ones, fabric ones, die cut ones....any ones! LOL!

6. Scallops...bring them on. I can't stop using them. Especially that scalloped edge paper from Bazzill.

7. Speaking of Bazzill...have you seen the new Bling papers? Love! I got my hands on a bunch of them  - so pretty! Love the finish on them!

8. Totally been loving all the Autumn Leaves Clear Stamps. I'm totally addicted to stamps right now. Good stuff!

Ok - had more to write but I gotta go help the kiddos. We all got the flu and sick this weekend...it's been so yucky but I think we are getting better. The kids still have the runs...poor bums! :)

What are you loving right now? Maybe I'll have to get something this weekend with the sales! :) See - so addicted!

Hi! :)

I've been a lame blogger...I know. And I really wanted to be better! This week has been crazy busy...every chance I get I'm in my studio creating and creating assignment after another. It's a busy time. I love what we are doing though...it's really fun! Just busy right now. So, I'm just trying to get by and get things done, with work, kids, hubby, house....you know how it is. So sorry I haven't been posting very much.

Thanks to everyone for your emails and post re: my last post. Your all so sweet! I'm sorry that I haven't been able to respond to everyone - I've wanted to. I'm behind on emails! :) So sorry! I do appreciate your kind thoughts and words though. Thank you!

So....did anyone watch Grey's Anatomy last night? I'm so excited to see them on Oprah today too!

Well, I've only watched the first few minutes...don't worry...I'll finish it this morning. But, I was struck wtih a flood of emotions as I watched that scene with the 'mom' and the child and the 'mom' had run over the child with the car. How terrified she was....how sorry she was! How sad she was and was so concerned about her and if she was going to be okay.

It hit me...that scene was probably very similar to the scene that happened to me when I was three years old.

It was a Sunday. My Mom had loaded us kids into the car to run and pick up the babysitter as they had a church fireside to go to. I slid in the car and over to the other door and my sisters came in after me. My Mom backed down our driveway into the culd-de-sac and put the car in drive and moved forward. As that happened, the door I was sitting by flung open and I fell out. I fell under the car and the wheel was over my stomach. My oldest sister screamed and it made my mom realize what had happened.

In an instant, she had to decide whether to go forward or backwards. She went backwards back over me and in that moment....saved my life.

I was shortly after strapped to a stretcher. I remember being scared that I was all strapped down and couldn't move. I cried for my blanket and I remember someone getting it for me.

A Life Flight Helicopter came into our circle and with my Dad by my side, we were flown to the hospital.

The Dr.'s later declared me as a 'Miracle Child'.

They said I shouldn't of lived.

If my mom would of gone forward at that important moment...it would of crushed me. All my organs were pushed up to the sides of the tire and that helped save me. My left leg was hurt badly - ground in the asphalt and they didn't know if I'd walk normally again.

But, I am. I have a bad scar on my leg...which is actually looking better every year. And on my stomach...just an oval small scar that you can barely see now.

Miracle!

I was emotional after seeing that scene on Grey's Anatomy. How hard that must of been for my mom and dad. I can't even begin to imagine their emotions and thoughts.

It's interesting too because I haven't thought of that incident for years. And this year....it happened 25 years ago. Wow! I realized that I don't even know the date that it happened....I don't have the journal entries that my parents wrote, copies of the letters my sisters wrote me while I was in the hospital...so many things that I want to have for my records. I want to read them...be grateful for those that wrote them and recorded the thoughts and moments that occured.

My family is big journal keepers. And yet in the past few years, I haven't written in my journals at all. I've bought a lot of them...but I've been so consumed with scrapbooking that I haven't taken the time to journal and write my feelings and the things that happen each day.

I'm going to try harder...harder to document things the kids do, my feelings and what we do each year. It's so important! I'm so thankful that my parents were so good with that...that we have records of so many events and moments in our life.

Anyway....sorry for two serious posts this week. Just an emotional release for me! With Thanksgiving around the corner, I've been reflecting on life and what I am grateful for.

Today, I'm grateful to be here. I'm grateful to the Dr.'s that helped save me...grateful for my family and for all that I have been blessed with!

What are you grateful for?

This is Our Life...

With Madisyn....

- Mac n' Cheese: Can't have any broken noodles or she won't eat it.
- Trix: No purples in the bowl
- Rice & Cream of Chicken Soup Mixed: No chicken pieces 'chocolate' as she calls them
- Has to drink milk from the same pink sippy all the time...no exceptions
- Sippy has to be full for her to drink it her milk
- Have to sing the same 4 songs each night, tickle her back, and lay with her till asleep
- Slept on the sofa from the age of 1 1/2 years old to one month ago (afraid of her room)
- Has to take her favorite toys with us everywhere we go
- Has to have her 'yellow' blanket to drink her milk with (she wraps it around her milk cause it's too cold)
- When she has chocolate pudding, she has to have sprinkles on top
- I still have to wipe her dry when she goes 'pee'
- Still needs a diaper to go #2 (afraid to go on the potty)
- Is addicted to Skittles! :)
- Won't eat meat or veggies or fruit

I'm sure there are many more. It's been on my mind a lot lately...all her little things that have to be done a certain way. Sometimes it's so overwhelming and frustrating...but, it is our life. Hudson has his own little routines and things that have to be done particularly too...are all kids like this or is he showing signs of the same things that Madisyn has? It's so hard...with Madi being our first child...it's hard to know what is normal or not. It's hard to know if all kids do certain things or if it's an 'autistic' trait, obsessive, anxiety....so hard to know.

The joys of parenthood right! :)

Winner! :)

First of all...thanks for all your sweet comments and get well wishes. Your all so nice! And thanks for saying hello...I hope that you'll continue to say hello! How cool would that be to get 120 posts on everything I write! LOL! Heheheheee! Thanks for saying hello!

I had Madisyn draw a name this morning for the book and the winner was:

Renee Richins!

Yahoo girl! Be sure to email me your address and I'll get this off to you!

And....

Hudson just had to draw a name to so I'll send you some goodies in the mail as well....

Sarah Rice!

Congrats to both of you! Be sure to email me your address!

I'm still not feeling great...all stuffed up and not breathing or sleeping well. Don't ya just hate that! I'll be honest, I'll take this yucky cold over the flu and throwing up any day! At least I can be up and doing stuff. I'm praying that we don't get the flu. It seems like last winter we were sick all the time - it was horrible.

I'm swamped with work right now and I need to go get busy. Working on some fun stuff...I so wish I could share it all right now.

Does anyone have any cool inspiration sites? Paper, clothes, art...anything that you'd want to share? I feel like my mojo is down a bit...probably from not feeling great....so if you have any cool places you want to share...I'd love it. I'll share some of my favs soon...gotta run! Hudson's crying.
Thanks again for the post and comments! Hugs to you all!

RAK

Random Act of Kindness

I thought I'd do one today since I haven't been around much. And...I'm not feeling great...we all have yucky colds and I've got tons I need to get done (like you all wanted to know that....sorry! LOL!)

Yesterday, I got in the mail my copies of the Trendsetters Idea Book from Scrapbook Trends. Wow! Loved looking through it...love how they set it up for each person...each of these girls are so talented! It was such an honor to be asked to be one of the artist for this book. So fun!

So, I thought I'd give one away.

Just post a comment and say hello and I'll draw names on Thursday morning. Sound good?

:) :) :) :) :)

Random Goodness :)

Thanks for your comments about the pumpkin - it was so quick and easy - just what I needed that night! :) It was fun though! We had a great Halloween! Madi was a Sleeping Beauty Snow Princess and Hudson was....what else...Thomas the Tank Engine. He is obsessed with it all I swear! :) They had soooo much fun! It was so fun to see Hudson get into it this year. He ran up to each door, said, "trick or treat" and "thank you" and just had a blast. I loved watching them having so much fun! :) It was a great night!

Yesterday, I ran into Target and was hit with the Christmas bug. It was already up everywhere! I can't believe how quickly stores change for Christmas. I got some really cute things though that I'm super excited to put up! Love Christmas stuff...glittery, color, so fun! I feel like every year Christmas comes and goes so quickly and I never really get in the 'spirit' of it all and get to enjoy it. I have a lot on my plate (scrapbooking work) over the next few months...but I want to take time to enjoy this holiday season.

I want to get my decorations out and the tree up early and enjoy it....absorb it all. I love the holidays! I started thinking about Christmas gifts and cards yesterday...I want to get an early start on all of those as well. I will post pictures of things as I finish them.

My computer will be here in any minute...wahoooooooo!!! I ordered it Monday night and it's here Friday...wow! Talk about quick! I got my software from Amazon last night...talk about perfect timing! Coolness! I'm anxious to get it all set up! My hubby gave in and let me by this awesome desk last night for our room - I can't wait to get it and show pictures. It will be here next week.

Anyway...kids are at my sisters so I'm gonna go scrap and enjoy this time alone for a bit! :) Here is a layout that I did for the Autumn Leaves booth at Memory Trends using the MOD Blackbird line. So fun! :) Kinda a wonky scan with all those buttons.

Have a good one!