Change is Never Easy For This One

Well, I told you I had some news. I've joined the Creative Team over at Creative Soup. Creative Soup is a relatively new challenge blog/forum. I am absolutely floored by this new and fun concept. This is not your momma's challenge blog. It has an actual FORUM and GALLERY where members can chat, be inspired, ask questions, and share their stuff. Genius!! There is a ton going on at this place to inspire you, get your mojo flowing, so that you can create, create, create.

Mojo Mondays are a great way to kick off the scrappy week. Mondays bring you new challenges each week rotating between various topics including Get Meaningful, Get Sketchy, Get Inspired, and Get Crafty. Complete some challenges and earn ca-yute badges and be entered into a drawing for some scrappy goodness!

Creative Soup offers amazing free classes every quarter. The forum provides very detailed instructions and journaling prompts. I have never seen such a lenghty involved class offered in a free forum. I can't wait to get started on May's event!

The week doesn't end on Monday. Tuesdays offer Talk Tuesday to give you the opportunity to get to know your fellow Soup-ers better. Web Wednesdays bring you great projects and links from the web. CS does the web surfing for you! Thursdays are Thrifty Thursdays. They give you ideas to stretch your scrappy dollar. And Fridays are all about fonts. CS offers wonderful font finds and the links, to boot. Don't forget about your cameras, either. Sundays are Snapshot Sundays. The girls provide a fun photography challenge each week.

Creative Soup has monthly crops with challenges, games, and prizes. In fact, one just started yesterday. March Madness Crop goes through the 21st. Go HERE and join the forum and get started. See you there.

Before you go... Some fun new stuff for Scrapbook Express.

And, of course a little something for Scrap That Baby's newest prompt. Go make something and you may just win a wonderful prize from this month's sponsor, Ally Scraps.

That First Step is a Doozy

I know, I know, I keep saying, "I'll be right back", and I end up being a no-show to my own party. Not even sure what's eating up my blogging time. Well, anyways I'm here. I'm enjoying the off season around here. This is the only time of year where we have zero kids in team sports. We're "off" until Spring soccer fires back up. Now, that should be fun. All FIVE will be playing for the first time. Excuse me while I go take a nice, long nap just at the very thought. In the meantime we're keeping busy with Scouts times 2 and just the day to day life with the Fab Five.

Gotta give props to my last baby getting potty trained. Yep, after 10 years, 3 months, and 3 days STRAIGHT of having a kid or kiddos in diapers... wait for it... Sullivan is potty trained. Whatever to do with all that free time?!? Here he is enjoying his reward. Heck, I would have bought him a full-size dump truck had he done it at 2!!

Tons of scrappiness to share. Have I told you lately that I love banners?

Did this for a DT call. Hmm, I may just have something to share. Wink.

Can you say stash? Yep, used up some super old, I mean yummy Fancy Pants acrylic shapes and Amy Butler butterflies.

More Studio calico Back 40 love...

Thanks for checking in on me. Love reading your comments. Appreciate that you take the time to do it. I've got STB and Scrapbook Express stuff to share. Later.

She May Be Daddy's Girl, But She's ALL Me

So... the girl turned 8. Yep, not sure how but she survived the drama that is her, and turned EIGHT. Don't quite know what it is, but there's something about that age for a girl. No longer little girl and oh so darn close to that dang 'tween age. Ugh. No, double ugh.

Donk started planning the big day around the same time he was planning Bubba's #10 celebration. This year's game plan... Spa Day for Julia and 3 of her besties. They had a ball getting their hair, faces, and nails done. All the while enjoying Cokes, candy, cookies, and cupcakes (from the new cupcakery around the corner, any excuse for Momma to finally check them out). You seriously have not seen 4 little girls this dang giddy. They were all giggles and skipping and lollipops and sugar. So happy was I to be there to take it all in. It was THAT special.

Life continues to be character building. So, I play with paper & glue as much as I can. Here are 5 layouts using Studio Calico's Back 40 kit (and the pp add-on). I have 4 more in the making and still lots more to dig into. The first is a double layout for Project 12 for January. Not in the journaling mood, so that will come...

******P.S.: Yep, I made that birthday badge for my girl (scroll back to the very first image I shared today). I started with some Sass classic scraps, some hoarded ribbon, mostly AC, and the Tim Holtz rosette diecut for my Epic 6. I tore apart an old birthday badge and just started punching, gluing, flocking, and layering. This is my new favorite thing to make. You better look out, if YOU have a birthday coming up, you just may be the recipient of one of these little ditties!!

*************P.P.S. Double yep, more stash usage today. Gotta love your stash. Are you with me?

Today, I am... February Edition, Part Dos

Today I am thankful for Diet Coke ON TAP from McDonalds. Pure bliss. Forget the recipe for the special sauce, just tell me how they make this Coke!

I am thankful for little girls' shoes that sparkle just like they do.

I am thankful for the "hot chair" in my Yukon XL that always goes on accidentally when the temperature is 110 degrees outside. These days it works wonders on my poor, old back.

I am thankful for the promise of Spring. It's getting light outside earlier and earlier. This makes it soo much easier to wake my sleepy brood.

I am thankful that I can still calm a crying toddler awakened by a nightmare involving monsters with just the sound of my voice and a "Momma's here."

I am thankful for three-year-olds who CAN'T listen to Pink loud enough while running errands with the Momma.

I am thankful that my hubby has a job that makes him happy. AND, one that allows him to fly up to Philly to pick me up a couple of these to sample and compare. Sigh...

P.S. All the layouts were done either for or over at Scrapbook Express. If you need lots of fun challenges to get you scrapping, that is the place to be!

Today, I am... February Edition

Today I am thankful for...
Little boys who can be entertained for what seems like hours by all things with wheels.

I am thankful for Stouffers every once in a while. Stouffers means I only have to empty and run the dishwasher once a day. This is nothing short of a day "off" in my book.

I am thankful for kids who set their sights high. Enjoyed taking the three Bigs to Applebee's to enjoy their free meals they EACH earned for being good kids at school.

I am thankful that I, I mean P.J., finally earned his Webelo's badge. Phew I'm pooped.

I am thankful that P.J. still thinks it's cool to be chosen to be for Safety Patrol at school. Only the best were chosen, and that's what he is.

I am thankful that I've been blessed enough to stay home for my kids. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be the room mom for each of my Bigs' Kindergarten classes over the years. There's nothing quite like bonding with your wee one and their friends over a little paper & glue. These memories will be with them forever.

I am thankful that God blessed me with a mini ME, for better or worse... She IS me.

I'm thankful for my own time to play just a little...

P.s. This last one is for Scrap That Baby's newest prompt. Come play along with us. The girls on this team have mad skillz and you want to be inspired by them!

Every Day is Groundhog Day

Every day. Every day I drink Diet Coke on ice. Every day I tell someone to stop looking at their sibling. Every day I pick up clothes off the floor and hang-up damp bath towels. Every day. Every day I make breakfast to order for 5 kids. Every day I tell the Middle to stop kicking random toys around the house. Every day. I empty and fill the dishwasher. Every day. Every day I wait for the standard soft kisses from the twinnies at naptime and bedtime (mouth, nose, head, each cheek, each eye...) Every day. Every day I hound my Cub Scout to work on his assignments. Every day I "watch" the news on my Ipod at bedtime. Every day. Every day I pour half apple juice/half water cocktails for Frick & Frack. Every day I rotate laundry. I don't do it. I just rotate it. Every day. Every day I marvel at my children's sheer brilliance. Every day I shuffle to and fro to the bus stop with the wee-est ones either running too fast or trailing behind to see off the Bigs. Every day. Every day I tell my older daughter, the one who is so smart and pretty to slow down, no REALLY slow down. Every day I ask the hubby how his day was. Every day he tells me something along the lines of "fine". Every day. Every day I watch Yo Gabba Gabba. Every day I look at football cards with my Biggest. Every Day I hear the constant drone of, "I Want You." Every Day. Every Day I heavy sigh the pure exhaustion and repetition that is my life. Every day I am thankful for my happy little family.

Every Day.


Some fun scrappiness just for the folks at Scrapbook Express...

These last ones are just for little old me...