Some new *Goodies*

I put a few new *goodies* in my etsy shop today.

*Month Tags*: (these are cool, you can color the font in with your favorite marker/paint or just leave them plain)


*Preppy Stripe* Monogrammed gift tags:

*Things That GO! tags:

and more stuff is coming, and not all paper goodies either.

Day 13

*Day 13*

I made this little outfit for Mally this week. Lots of craftiness going on here. I LOVE IT!

Day 12

*Day 12* What is *vacation*?

Definition:

va·ca·tion -noun: a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday.

Dude, tell them to leave you alone:

Day 11

*Day 11*

Scrappy time

Lindsey and I have had some serious crafty/scrappy time today and yesterday. I have done many scrap layouts over the past few years, but have been real weird about posting them for just anyone to see, I guess I am not real confident in my *scrapping* abilities. I so *love* paper and all the *yummy* stuff that goes along with it, I have loved paper, stickers, art supplies ever since I was a kid, just ask my Mom. My brother always made fun of me because while he was scoping out the toys at whatever store we were at, I was scoping out the school/office/art supply aisle.

OK so this is one of the first posts with one of my layouts, about one of the best subjects *ever*, my girls.

The photos were taken last August when my Mom was in town for visit. We took the girls around town looking for cool spots to take pictures. Lots of fun!

This is one of Lindsey's layouts, she has discovered Hambly. *ohmygoodness*. (I took her to our local scrap store last week, YIKES! She has been cranking out some really cool stuff. She has quiet the knack for scrapping. This is one of her more simpler layouts:

Photo was taken by my friend Marci Lambert, the best photographer EVER!!

Try this!

I made this on Sunday, so very YUMMY! A fresh twist on salsa.

Grape-Mint Salsa

Prep: 15 min., Chill: 1 hr.

2 cups green seedless grapes, coarsely chopped

2 cups red seedless grapes, coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 whole jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped (for less of a *bite* only use 1/2)

Sugared Pita Chips (I served with regular tortilla chips for that sweet/salt combo)

1. Combine first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl; cover and chill at least 1 hour. Serve with Sugared Pita Chips or regular tortilla chips.

This is how mine turned out.

The recipe is from the March 2008 issue of Southern Living, if you have the magazine it is on page 123.

Days 9 -10

*Day 9* Molly our rotten Corgi, OK I'll admit it she is cute, and she adores Lindsey!

*Day 10* Some reading in the afternoon.

Days 6-7-8

OK, the pictures were taken just not posted. It's been a busy week *peeps* (Mom, that is slang for *people*, Lindsey taught me that).

*Day 6* (at church/Mally's daycare Spaghetti dinner/Art show)

*Day 7* after it started snowing:

*Day 8* same tree/fern as yesterday, but a little more snow.

I am on vacation next week, Lindsey is out for Spring Break. WOOHOO!

Day 5 of 31

The ever so *cute* Miss Mallory!

I have been playing with some PS Actions, this one has a vintage feel to it.

This is the original photo:

Day 4 of 31

This is Lindsey doing some creative Spelling homework. They get to choose from a variety of assignments to complete their four points for Spelling each week. One of the choices is called *Sound Words*, where you record yourself spelling out your words. This is a good starter for studying your words, speaking aloud always helped me when studying as a child (well it still helps when I am writing storyboards at work to hear how they sound after I write them, yes I look like I am talking to myself, but so far I have not gotten any strange looks from my co-workers). The Sound Words are worth three points, so we still have one point to go before Thursday. Lindsey uses a sound recording tool on her computer to record the words since we no longer have a tape recorder, not that she knows what that is anyway, she was born the the age of *CDs* now it is all about her iPod. (no the cel phone you see in the picture is not activated, it is my old phone she uses to play games , come on, she is 8 people)

Day 3 of 31

*Little Miss Mallory*, girly I hope your eyes stay that beautiful blue!

Day 2 of 31

This is what happens on the ride home after a weekend with PaPa Rick and Grandma Karen. I had barely made it out of town and I look back and see this. She slept for the 45 min ride home, I snapped the shot after I pulled into our driveway (slept through that too).

March 2008: Photo-A-Day

Today begins my March Photo-A-Day challenge. First a picture of my album:

Yes Mom, that is some *bling* on the front. (added just for you)

Now, my photo for the day:

The first sign in our yard that *Spring* is around the corner.

We have a few things going on today:

• typical Saturday chores
• monogramming orders to fill
• working on more paper designs for my etsy shop
• JA bowl-a-thon this afternoon
• Dinner out tonight (David, Mally and I....Lindsey is at my Dad's for the weekend)

Conversation with my Mom

OK so I am sitting at my desk this afternooon eating some soup (which I nearly spit everywhere) and I get an IM from my Mom, yes she is pretty with it for her 56 years, well at least she is after the following conversation: (screen names have been changed to protect the innocent)

Mom: what the heck is bling?
Jennifer: LOL
it is slang for jewelry
Mom: how does jewelry become bling??????
Jennifer: definition from Websters:
bling: noun; flashy, ostentatious jewelry
Jennifer: and what in the hell are you doing that you need to know what "bling" is?
Mom: aren't you the smart one. good thing i didn't go to Hobby Lobby and ask for a bottle of bling!!!!!! Nothing. I just keep running across the word!
Jennifer: you are cracking me up, I am in tears

No Mom I'm really not that smart, I am raising your *eight* year old granddaughter. I am learning so much, just as you did with me. LOVE YA!!!!

We have some teeth....finally

Although you can barely see them in this photo or any other photo I have taken of her lately. Trust me they are there.

In other news we are in the midst of Lindsey writing her autobiography for a school project. All eight years of her beautiful life, we still have two chapters to finish up this week. Spring Break is just around the corner and I am looking forward to the time off.

A little creative time

I had a little time today to create an album of pictures that I have taken of the girls this month. It felt really good to actually complete it. I kept it simple, not a lot of journaling, just pictures and some embellishments. I like how it turned out, so much so that I have challenged myself to take a photo a day in the month of March. I created the album already so all I will need to do is add the pictures and whatever else I want to. I didn't take a photo of the March album but here is a picture of the February album I created today.


I have a few other albums *in progress* so actually finishing one was so nice. I am not sure why, but I like creating an entire album as opposed to one layout. Maybe because you can tell a story with a series of pictures in an album or maybe it is just one of those organizational hang-ups I have. OK, gotta get back to watching the Tigers vs Vols game. GO TIGERS!!!!

Plays hard

This is what Lindsey and I arrived to find when picking up Mallory yesterday.


Miss Mary said she had been playing with a huge stuffed animal dog and the next thing they knew she had fallen asleep hugging the dog. They had just moved the dog from under her before we arrived. The girl rarely naps for very long; much less falls asleep while playing. So *sweet*.

Mamamamama

Yep that's right, Mallory knows my name and is not afraid to use it. Tonight, that is all she could say. Lindsey's first words were Dadadadada. So maybe just maybe Mallory will be a Mama's girl. hehe although she is quiet fond of her Daddy. Daddy's and their girls, what else can you say? They have his heart that is for sure. (mine too)

Sneak peek

A very small sampling of stuff I have been working on. Tags, journaling spots for scrapbooking and so much more will be added to my etsy shop soon. Please stay tuned. If you can't wait and want to place an order or see more stuff, shoot me an email and we can work something out.

It's been awhile

Ok I think I am human again. After battling strep, double ear infection, sinus infection and flu mess, I am happy to report that I am feeling much better. These last three weeks have been tough. It is the first time that David and I have been sick at the same time along with both girls being sick too. It hit me the hardest, lucky me. David rarely gets sick so this was a huge deal. Both of us trying to take care of two sick girls and take care of ourselves too. We managed, just like we always do, we are good like that. A great team. Sometimes it is hard not having family close by that you can call on to help out, but we certainly manage and we are better planners for it.

We got hit hard with several storms last night, this morning we are all safe and well. My heart goes out to those who got hit harder than we did.

I have gotten behind on my etsy store launch, I am working double time to get caught up. One thing that is hindering me now that I am feeling better is the terrible clicking sound my hard drive is making, ARRGGG. I have managed to get all of my embroidery designs, my paper designs, photos and all other important stuff transferred to an external back up drive. David has a new pc ordered and on the way. It was time for a new one and we knew it, this just got us moving a little faster.

OK time to get the girls stuff packed for school/daycare and myself ready for work.

But first a photo of my cuties, Lindsey likes reading to Mallory and of course Mallory likes her Big Sis to read to her. Too cute!