{discovering} life

Have you helped a child today?

I have been so inspired by Ali and all that she has done to raise awareness and funds for Autism research. Today is the last day....the contest at 6 degrees ends tonight and it's the last day to donate to Autism Speaks.

I feel bad...I'm not sure if I really understood the whole 'contest' thing at first and so I thought sure, I want to help raise money, I'll create a badge for Madisyn. I didn't understand that there was this big contest...sorry! But....I have to thank, hugely thank, those that donated here on my badge for Madi. That was so sweet of you - I don't know who you are...but thank you, thank you, thank you!

Please hop over to Ali's blog today - click on her badge and make a donation. The smallest amount accepted is $10 - it can go a long way!!

I've been thinking about this contest and how Ali has taken her position in this industry to do so much good. So inspiring! I was cuddling with Madisyn last night and tears came to my eyes....all this money that has been raised is going to research to help sweet children all around the world, just like Madisyn and Simon, that are struggling with this thing we call 'AUTISM'.

These sweet little one's need our help - they need our money to help with the funding it takes to get the best research - to hopefully find a cure for Autism.

I pray that they will!

I pray that this money will do good...that it may be just the thing they need to help with this cause.

I pray that they will find a cure.

I pray that our children suffering will get the help they need...

to not suffer anymore.

If you can, please donate! :)

Random Thoughts

The kits are sold-out - thanks to those of you that bought them. I will most likely be shipping tomorrow, Thursday. I've just about got them all packaged up. I hope you enjoy them in your home! :) Thanks again, so much!!

So, I have been wanting a cursive typewriter for a long time and I finally won one on ebay today! I'm so super excited to get it and play, play....did I mention....PLAY!!!! I've got some way cool ideas - I know that may sound random for a typewriter - but I do! LOL! And I am beyond excited! I think I paid a little more for it than I should of - but I just had to finally have it! It's going to be so much fun!

On another note, did you know that the Autumn Leaves CHA-Winter releases are arriving in stores? Ahhhh...talk about bliss! I found it at Two Peas and A Million Little Things - go and grab those killer papers and stamps before they are gone. It looks like AMLT is already sold out of a bit - this stuff is hot! I'm dying waiting to get my hands on it all and to dig in big time!!! I loved this release - that Rhonna ' French Twist' line is right up my alley - pink, green, orange, ledger - delicious!!! And the stamps - love!!! Go now - when I see it come in at other places, I'll hook you up! :)

On another note, I've been thinking about doing some class kits for a long time - I used to love teaching classes and I haven't done much of it in the past year or so. So, I have some big plans. I really hope that you will all like them and gobble them up - they are going to be so much fun! I'm working on the first class now and ordering product so hopefully by the end of April I will have them ready to go. Ahhhh...I can't believe I'm actually writing about this. I guess I have to commit to it now right? LOL!

It's been on my mind for so long but I just haven't had the time to do it - but I'm gonna get it done! I am so excited about the class (fun things done in it with the cursive typewriter for you too) - I think it is going to be really fun! I hope you'll think so too!

Anyway - hope you all have a good day! I'm working on my 'balance' today. Finishing up assignments, playing with kids, cleaning the house, organizing my room, responding to emails....sounds like your everyday life but so many things that I need to work on. Have a good one!

Amore Frame Kits & Look Blog Challenge

I posted a layout in response to Lisa's fun 'Brad' challenge on the Look Blog. I'm kinda bummed cause this may be the last week for the Look Blog! I just love the AL girls and I love seeing their work each week - it's such a treat! But, the response to the challenges has gone down a bit so they may close it this week. I truly hope not cause I just love it! I loved this challenge - I'm obsessed with brads on my layouts lately so this was an 'easy' one for me to do. If you haven't played yet for this week, hurry and create a layout with brads and post it somewhere. Then link up your layout and you could get a goodie - usually an awesome AL book! :)

I also wanted to share the goodie prize I made for the drawing at our girl's retreat. I have enough stuff to make up 5 kits if you are interested in buying one to make for your lovely home.

The kit comes with a really nice off-white thick shadow-box style frame (opening is 4x6), the courdory and wool for the background, wool house, string, flowers, brads and a rubon (words will vary- I'll give you 2-3 to choose from in your kit). Plus instructions to complete it.

If you are interested, they are $17, plus $5 shipping. You can pay me via paypal. Just post here, be sure to include your email so I can contact you. Or you can email me directly at the link under my profile pict!

All my sisters loved it and so I thought it would be fun to make up some more.

Hope you all have a great weekend!
Hugs!

Geez....

I can't believe it's already Tuesday! Time is flying by...crazy fast lately! Last week was a busy week - and I was dead tired for some reason. I took a nap on Saturday and Sunday - talk about odd. Although it was so nice! :) I have had such good intentions of posting here but things are just so busy right now. Thankfully, after this week, things will be slowing down and I'll have more time. That....feels good. I'm looking forward to getting back to some 'balance' around here.

Thanks for all your well wishes on our anniversary! You are all soooo sweet to post and it means a lot to me - so thank you! We had a wonderful day! We went out to dinner at this new place and it was great - quiet and just perfect for the night. My hubby had the most beautiful flower arrangement sent that morning - I couldn't believe it. Red roses and Calla Lillies - my favs. Throw in some white tulips...it was just beautiful!

I wanted to share some more photos of our 'Girls Retreat.' It truly was the funnest time ever! My Mom did so many little things to make it just perfect - she amazes me! I know I already said that, but she truly does!

Here is my quilt...some of the process and then the actual quilt all sewn together. I actually had time to get one of the borders on before I had to leave, but didn't get a photo there. So, here is the main inside of the quilt - I got it ALL done! I couldn't believe it! I seriously worked on that thing all day long for 2 straight days - it was so fun though! I loved every second of it!

Lots of good food - and no - we didn't eat it all! LOL! Good company - we had a beautiful place and the best set-up - all our machines on the big table. Laughs, eats, movies and more! Wonderful time! I can't wait until next year!! :)

On Thursday, I'll post a pict of the 'bigger' prize drawing thing that I made for the retreat. We all had to bring a prize that we drew a name for - we had lots of little prizes and giveaways it was so fun! I was thinking of making up some kits of what I made, so I'll post about that soon and if your interested in one, just let me know.

Hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday! Off to finish up some assignments and try to clean up the kitchen. Hugs!

This guy...

and I were married 10 years ago today. 10 YEARS!! I really can't believe that it has been 10 years already - I still feel so young and that I'm not old enough to have been married that long (although, yes, I did get married young). This morning he made me waffles and gave me an incredible basket of treats, gift certificates for breakfast and for a hotel night stay and more. It was so cute and so unexpected. I was surprised. I didn't think he had done anything cause things have just been so crazy.

And, he's got plans for tonight. I'm so impressed and in love with him! I put heart stickers all over his bathroom mirror this morning and have a few other things for him throughout the day - it's gonna be a good day! :) We've been through a lot together - so glad we've made it to this point and I can't wait for the rest of our lives together - I know it will be wonderful!

Love you honey!!!

******

Girls Retreat....

It was soooo much fun! Relaxing, no kids, sleeping, eating, talking, music and movies and quilting from sun up to sun down. We were little busy bees in that cabin! Amazing how you can get so absorbed in something and all the sudden it's 5 pm. So crazy! It went by super fast but was so much fun! My Mom is the most incredible person I know - she did so much for each of us - put thought and symbolism into every little thing. She amazes me - absolutely amazes me!

I've gotta download my photos and I'll post more about my weekend retreat. Lots and lots of fun! More to share and I've gotta share how far I got on my fun quilt - love it! Hope you all have a good day! Hugs!

Goodies, goodies & more goodies!

Yes, it's gotten bad girls (and guys)! :) Too much shopping is not a good thing for me (someone please stop me)! Today, however, was a great mail day! Two big boxes of goodies from ScrapGal (who gets orders out super fast - just love her) and A Million Little Things (who helped get mine out before I leave tomorrow - thank you again!).

Lots of treats...new My Minds Eye Tres Jolie (which is amazing - love love love it!!!), Sassafrass Lass papers, tons of Heidi Swapp, new KI Memories Album (I'll show you soon what I'm gonna do with it), tons of Making Memories brads (I am totally obsessed with brads lately - hello, look at these - so dang cute), Fontwerks Flourish stamps, Bazzill Pizzazill cardstock and so much more. It's so sick! LOL!

I created a layout in response to MG's challenge on the Look Blog and posted it today. Go check it out - hope you likey! :) I also asked YOU a question over there so come and see and respond!

I'm off!! So excited to go play all weekend long! Have a wonderful weekend! I'll have tons of fun things to share come Monday - so excited! :)

Hugs!!

P.S. Thanks for the well wishes yesterday - all is well! Thank you!

The Good and the Bad

They seem to come together at times don't they. Well, yesterday was one of those days. I woke up, determined to have a productive day and get things done. I have a mile long to-do list that needed to be completed yesterday. So, I worked all morning - cleaning the house, organizing, finishing an assignment, getting something in the mail to my good friend Maggie and more. Busy busy. Took Madi to school, then I ran to the post office to drop of the package for Maggie and bam....

Car accident.

I couldn't believe it. These two kids in a truck were going super fast around the corner into the parking lot and we hit - I was so upset at them. Nerds! :) Luckily, the front bumper was totally off the car and ruined but nothing else. Hudson was with me but we weren't going fast and we were all okay. I'm so glad the car wasn't ruined more. So, we had to deal with the police report and all that. Things like that shake me up - I haven't been in an accident for over 6 years (which was a minor one too) but they shake me up. I was all paranoid driving after that - watching every little thing.

Well, in the midst of me getting a ton done yesterday - I guess I forgot to eat good. At 5:00 last night I was so sick. I couldn't move! Seriously bad! Ryan got home and helped get me something to eat and I slowly got better - it was so weird! I've never had that happen before. I ate some cereal and some popcorn at Target (hehehheee) and not much more. Trust me, I'm the biggest snacker ever - for me to not eat is weird! Anyway - feeling better this morning. I was worried I was getting the full fledged flu that Ryan had, right before my weekend away, and I was so sad. But, hopefully it will stay away.

Ok, I am totally rambling! :) Sorry!

Have you checked out the Look Book Blog lately? Come by and post to the threads - we are still trying to do daily threads as long as people come by so please come by and participate. Lots of fun stuff. I will have a layout up this week in response to MG's challenge as well.

Some good news...totally non important but cute for your scrapbook room - these finally are a decent price at Pottery Barn. I've been wanting them forever - even begged my hubby to make me some for Christmas - and I'm so glad they are one sale. I snagged 2 to put under my magnet board behind my desk so I can easily turn around and grab things. Can't wait!

And, I just love spring time - fresh colors, fresh designs, flowers, leaves...love it! Had to share these cute buckets from Land of Nod - just thought they were so cute!

Hope you all have a good day! I'm off to work on my layout for the Look Blog! Hugs!

Quilting

Thanks for your sweet emails and posts about my last post..your all so nice! Thank you so much for your support and for sharing in my excitement! :)

I wanted to show a picture of the quilt that I'm making (along with the 3 others that I have in the works...). It does have a floral border all the way around - they just had it folded over on the right. I really didn't like the floral border at first...kinda not like me...but then I fell in love with it. Funny how that happens.

Most the fabrics are Anna Griffin (like the Sloan line of papers) and I just love them! I haven't seen them at any stores around here (and we have some great quilt stores), so I was excited! I swapped out a few of the fabrics that I didn't like with some beautiful textured ones - I think it's going to make a huge difference. The pattern is super simple too so it shouldn't take too long. Just gotta get it sewn together! :) So, I'll share some pictures along the way as I do it. So fun!

I started pulling things together this morning for my little 'retreat' next week and I'm getting so excited! I've been excited about it since January when we set the date really! I've got 3 different quilts I want to work on and another I really want to start. I'm so funny! I just want to do it though...it's so hard for me to find time to do it here at home when I'm mostly scrapbooking. So, I'm really looking forward to this!

I know that my mom has some fun things planned too! Last year we went to this quilting retreat called Winterfest - classes, food and lots of giveaways and stores were there. It was so much fun! Well, it didn't work out this year so we are just going to a cabin to play, play, play! It's going to be so much fun!

Anyway - enough about that! :) Geez! Can you tell that I'm looking forward to it! Hehehee!

I've really had good intentions of posting more here but I've just been so busy this past month! I've got so much I need to get done before I leave and then when I get back, it's our 10 year anniversary! 10 YEARS! I still can't believe it has been that long - so crazy! So, I need to get crackin' on something for my hubby! So much to do!

Hope you all have a good weekend! I'm gonna be running around and working in my studio like mad...so I'll post next week before I leave! Thanks for coming by! Have a good one!