GCD Studios GDT spot!

Hello there! It's Thursday. I am SO glad it is, aren't you? I can survive one more day of work and then I have off 4 days {well I have to go into work Sat. for an hour but I am not counting that!}

What is your long weekend looking like?

I wanted to share with you that I was one of the GDT member for GCD Studios this year!

I am their July GDT member and you can see my first layout in their newsletter!

Here is the layout I did using their July kit.

I am working right now on the rest of my projects with them, can't wait to show you!

Did anyone watch The Voice? Ya know we don't have TV but each week we watched it online through their website and really enjoyed it a lot! My favorite was Dia Frampton. But I have to admit I am glad that Javier Colon won too! I loved all 4 of the finalists a lot. I loved Beverly because she was herself and had such great stage presence and I loved Vicci because she was unique and her voice was interesting. Share with me what you thought!!!

Hope your having a great Thursday!

Storage and 30 days!

I am leaving in 30 days peeps... 30 days!!!!

I've been counting down the days for a really long time now, and it's finally that close!

Never been on a cruise. Never been to the Bahamas either!

I am pretty stoked!

Everything's all ready to go! I have a list its finally finalized!

Yep. I'm that EXCITED!!

I am also excited because I have finally scrapped! However, I can't show a single thing to you! LOL. One project that was major was for SRM and Bazzill. The other one's I did are for GCD Studios!  I am also working on my kit still for Scrapbook Circle! Many projects in the works!!!

But I can show you this. Recently the SRM DT were asked to create a project using the SRM Tubes for storage ideas. 

Right after we had gotten the idea, Alyssa's play had just ended. Since this was her second play, we learned a little more about the world of CYT. It dawned on me to couple my SRM project as well as CYT and create the perfect storage solution!

This is Alyssa's make-up kit for CYT. They all have to have one inside of their bins when they are doing shows. This make-up lasts a long time, but Alyssa's was rolling all around in her bin without being organized. So after we cleaned her bin out, I got the idea of using the tubes and creating a more organized make-up kit for her to use each time for shows! Not only are her things organized, but she can use the wire basket too and place it in her bin! This way everything stays in one place and is organized!!! She loves it and its perfect for her bin and organizing!

In family news... 

Dayv is on a short deployment. Thankfully it isn't very long! Alyssa started private singing lessons as well and those are going wonderful! We even just found out she'll have a permanent place in the fall for class as well! She loves her teacher and is improving daily! Dayv is about to have more ink on his arm on the 8th. I have to have a yucky root canal coming up. But the cool part that has nothing to do with that is I only have 20 days of work left!!! I forgot that I won't be working the weekends and some other days in July so totaled its only 20 days left! The closer I get the more excited I am and how much easier it is to let it all go. I have almost completed the school process. I turned in some more paperwork and also went to look at classes online. They are filling up very fast so I hope to get everything squared away so I can get into something I actually need!!! LOL. Alyssa is going to 2 camps this month {July}. Speaking of July Dayv won't be home again this year for the 4th.. So its just A&I. We decided to have a fun mini party here at the house with loads of yummy things to eat and celebrations ourselves! 

Well folks we're on our way to July and I am not sure where this summer has gone, but its flying by! I hope though you are enjoying yourself through it!

Much to do...

 About a lot!

It's the second day of summer and let me just share with you, it's beautiful here! Simply wonderful! The sun is shining, I hear lawn-mowing, and  everything is beautiful and green!

I am playing with this...
Scrapbook Circle's newest kit!

And I can officially share.. I am quitting my job! While I am very sad to be leaving my job because I loved the majority of it, I am counting down the days {ticker below} that I will end that chapter of my life. Why? You might be wondering? Well I can share with you that while I have loved this job it has had it trials and tribulations to say the least. My time is done. How that came about is that one of the other supervisor and myself couldn't come to an agreement about scheduling. In fact, I would have to say that this was the only issue really between us and it has been a thorn in my side since I started working as a supervisor there. She has been amazing for the most part and understanding of my personal/family life and has given a lot but suddenly decided that wasn't going to work anymore. It literally forced my hand, which was difficult but needed. So D&I talked and prayed about it and I decided to just quit. But... The most interesting part of this is that I am going back to school!!! LOL. You can laugh right along with me because most of you know how I feel about school. I have often been heard of saying school isn't important but being happy is. While that might be true, with this whole change of heart from my co-worker I was left with either jumbling my family life SO much just to fit in work it wasn't worth staying. After all, my family comes first. Always has, always will. So it got us thinking that going back to school was really deep down something I wanted to do. Honestly. As much as I thought it was a waste of time I think I felt that way due to the fact that I wasted my time there! LOL. I also didn't go to school to do what Elizabeth wanted to do back in the day, I went to school and went for a major that everyone said I was good at. So this time around I am going for me! I am going for dental hygiene!! And I am going the 4 year route to ensure a better job. I am doing my pre-major work at the community college here and then will transfer after the year is over. I should only be in school for 3 years. I am both very excited and nervous too!!! But I feel blessed at this opportunity!

Alyssa had her first voice lesson and is walking around the house singing!! It's so cute.
Dayv is now working in the office as a flight chief.
I am still counting down the days for my girlie trip!
Hopefully I'll be posting many of the creations I've been working on soon!!!
Take care!!

July!

I am sure if you've been following my blog you know that I simply love the 4th of July! It is after all one of my favorite holidays! I love everything about it.. From the food to the fireworks to the symbolism behind the day. Everything to love about it!

To show that recently I made a table setting that I am going to use to celebrate the day! Here is an example of the table setting! I used SRM Stickers which are my favorite!

I used the SRM Tubes as well as SRM 4th of July Stickers.
I had the other supplies on hand and this was very easy to create and looks really cute! Our table is going to be so festive!!!

It's never too early to start thinking of the 4th and its celebration!!!

What's your blessing? SEM Challenge #2

Why hello! It's finally spring/summer here!!! You can imagine the sunshine, fresh cut grass, sundress, sandals, and lemonade! I have waited for awhile now for each of these wonderful blessings in my life!

Even if its not spring/summer where you are, I sure hope whatever things are going on that you are finding yourself immersed in blessings!

That leads me to this post...  It's time for challenge #2 at

Scrapping Everyday Miracles.
Make sure you stop by the blog so you can see what's going on!

This is my layout that I came up for challenge #2. I am in love with this layout!

this layout was a semi lift from someone I found on the internet. I do not remember who though, I apologize. However I only lifted the ribbon and tag idea as well as the paper strips.
I didn't want to journal on this layout but I do want to share the meaning of it on my blog. As you know it has been almost 3 years since my mom has passed away. While the ease of it has come and I find myself with more peace, I realized that as I watch my flowers and plants take bloom how truly blessed I really am. You see this is a layout about our lilac bush. Commonly referred to as Grannie Lilac. Although I name every single plant, flower, or tree that we have in our garden this one is special because my mom bought it for us in 2006 when she came the very first time to visit us. We had just gotten back from England and she came a month later knowing that we'd need her with us. Dayv was deployed so it was just us 3 girls. One day while we were out, she decided that I need this lilac busy in our garden.  It was such a small bush and now it has grown SO much in the past 5 years. There is something more special about this lilac bush though. We used to live on base and we had the most beautiful garden. It was there I planted Grannie lilac. However as you know, we built a home of our own right after my mom passed away. When we moved, I didn't bother taking any of our plants, trees, or flowers. I was making this move all alone and didn't even think about it. When I did I thought it was too late. However, one day I got to thinking that I should just go ask the housing office on base explaining my situation if I couldn't have the bush. I did expect them to tell me no. After all, there were people that had moved in already. But when I went in and explained that this bush was bought by my mom and she had just passed away and I wanted it would it be possible for me to dig it up and take it? Surprisingly enough the woman said that people had moved in, but they were not there yet so I was more than welcome to keeping my mom's memory alive! You can imagine how elated I felt being able to go to our old home and dig up the lilac bush. To ensure that it wasn't going to die, I cut a huge circle around it, dirt and all and took it to our new home. I planted it and tended to it with such love and care. I can stand in our den window where we spend a great deal of our time and see Grannie lilac. It brings a smile to my face knowing that the gift of her is there. I am happy to report that Grannie lilac has almost tippled her size and is doing beautifully. I know my mom would be so proud and so happy too. I miss her so much. And while it is just a bush, it is something that is tangible that I have of her. 

You see blessings are all around us. So Grannie lilac is just a bush, but she is our bush and our reminder that I am blessed by the beautiful of God and a mom whom I loved.

I hope that you play along with this challenge and you share your blessings. I am excited to hear and see them!

It's great all around!!!

I had a GREAT mail day the other day!!

I got this...

 Got the whole new collection, plus an entire other box of goodies from Bazzill!

and this...

Got this kit from Citrus Tree Studios.

and I got the newest July kit from Scrapbook Circle too!

So that meant I could actually sit down and play to my hearts content! I am currently working on DT stuff and will show that soon, so exciting!

I am also going to be pubbed soon in ScrapStreet.com magazine with a recent layout I created for SEM challenges. Very exciting stuff here too!

In other news....

I don't know if I mentioned this or not, but we got Alyssa into the choice school we wanted for HS. We are very excited. We went to the school and filled out her choices for classes and then went in and got some updated shots for her as well. She's both excited and nervous. I can imagine that she is, I remember being nervous too but we talk a lot about it now. Our transportation issue has been fixed and solved, thank the Lord! She won't have to ride the bus or catch a ride with anyone either. I'll share that information in a lil' bit.

Dayv has begun his new sleeve on his arm...

I have to admit I am a tad jealous he's getting more ink, but I am going to soon myself!!!

For right now he's getting outlining done and then will color it all after that.

Our Father's Day is really fun! Dayv wanted our favorite pizza and to play video games, so here we go!!!

15 bean soup

I know.. I know... Who is really thinking of 15 bean soup during warmer weather?
I am that's who!!! We love 15 bean soup as you know!!! It's so yummy!
And I've coupled that with SRM Stickers tubes to create this really cute project!

I don't know about you but this would make the perfect gift to give at Christmas time, what do ya think? Yum!!!

Hope your day is filled with yummy goodness no matter if its watermelon or soup!!!! :)

Hi.

I have never been so glad for the weekend in all of my life. Truly thankful.

Do ya ever get in to one of those moods where your horns come out? Ya know when you try hard to not be snappy but it just comes out? That was me yesterday. Today I am much better! Nothing like cleaning the house, staying in, and just being!!!

So I thought I'd ramble... LOL!

A&I went shopping Thursday. We seem to do that on Thursday's every so often and I really enjoy it a lot! I know that she does as well, which is cool. She is still in the I think mom is cool stage! LOL. Just wait.  Oh well. She scored a new pair of black sandals, a cute light sweater thing, and a dress. I got a necklace, a strapless bra {that is the bomb!}, a white tee-shirt, and a dress. We had a really good time together and she made me laugh a lot!

Dayv will be home today! It couldn't come soon enough. It feels like 2 years and he's only been gone 2 weeks. He comes home and at the end of June leaves again. Lord grant me the strength to keep on keepin' on in this military journey!

My cruise is in 49 days!!! You can't possibly believe I have packed.. Seriously 2 times now already. Well that isn't true. I have a list and have wrote it and re-wrote it over and over again. I've tried on my outfits 2 times now. The next thing is to pack to ensure it all goes into my new suitcase that I bought!!! LOL. I am seriously VERY ready for this cruise. I couldn't begin to put into words how much I need this trip. So I'll keep making lists and checkin' them twice that's for sure!!! :)

I am waiting for many packages to come in the mail! I love mail days.

 I just went and put my robe on because I am cold and chuckled as I realized that I went from no dresses in my closet to owning at least 8 now!! While that might not seem like a huge deal to you, it is to me! I hated dresses. But I really like them now!

Grateful for:

1. Forgiveness from the Lord. Because without it, I would be a wreck.
2. Trees here where we live. I am amazed at each one and smile all the time as I drive through our city.
3. Coworkers who have become friends.
4. Quiet mornings where a sound isn't heard. It is refreshing, yet peaceful.
5. Cell phones. Because I cannot imagine our lives without them.
6. Alyssa's ability to be funny and make me laugh really hard!
7. Being able to speak freely, even when someone doesn't like what you are saying.
8. Knowing that while you might judge me, my only true judge is the Lord.
9. Dogs sitting next to their owners in cars. It makes me smile every. single. time.
10. How clean my house is because it makes me feel good.

I haven't scrapped in ages. I can't remember the last time. But normally when I write that on my blog, I get a surge and end up creating like a mad-woman! Which is cool to say the least. But for now my desk is completely clean. Oh I had to remember... I did some stuff for CHA for SRM Stickers which I am very proud of. Can you believe it? I made cards!! Yep. 4 of them for the show, a layout, and an older card I first made for them when I joined the team. I am very excited at the new cards because they were cute!!!!

I had 1 "bad" sweet thing for me in the 2 weeks D has been gone. It made me sick. It was a lemonade, go figure.

I have been working out at 4:30am for a month now and I love it! Love it. I get it out of the way and it jump starts my day. On top of that, I've been coming home and walking the dogs 2.5 miles daily and then heading home to do Jillian. The summer months is where I keep myself pretty active. Bike riding will soon commence too!

Well as boring of a post this is, I need to get myself going! D is coming home in 2 hours and I gotta get moving!! Hope your weekend is relaxing, I want mine to be!!!!

Winner, Winner, Winner!!!!

Thank you for everyone who commented on my blog post for the Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog hop! It was truly a fun hop seeing everyone's comments and going to everyone's blogs! It was also exciting to learn about where you are in your lives, I appreciate everyone taking the time to comment on my blog with those as well!!!

So without further ado.....
The winner of my RAK is.....

Tenny Kusuma said...
Sometimes....in the darkest situation, God makes us stronger. Thanks for sharing your life miracle.
My hubby and I have been waiting for a miracle for the past 6 years. It seems that God is really slow to answer our questions...however we've realized that God wants us to enjoy our daily miracles..rather than waiting for a big one.
Everyday is a miracle.

Your layout is beautiful :D

Congratulations Tenny!!! Email me at: carneys4christ@yahoo.com and I'll get your set up with your fun GC to Scrapbook.com!!!

Again thank you everyone! I look forward to going on this journey with you through Scrapping Everyday Miracles and seeing what miracles you have along the way!!!

Little Things Challenge-SEM challenge #1

Thank you to everyone who hopped along this past week!!! We have all made some new connections and friends too! I really enjoyed reading the responses you wrote on my blog. It is amazing to see where everyone is in their lives!!! I will be announcing the winner of my RAK on the 8th so check back then!!!!

So!!!

Welcome to Scrapping Everyday Miracles Challenges!!!!!
Here with our with our very first challenge #1!
Make sure you click the link and go see what its all about!!!

Here is the layout I came up with for our first challenge:

journaling:We often expect huge things at times with the Lord. And quite honestly it is actually in the littler things that God tends to have the most impact upon my life. Now don't get me wrong, the huge things are really huge too, but it is those little things that are like a moment in time where you want to capture for always. To remember, savor, and cherish forever. What I wanted to capture in this moment was a day with Alyssa. With our busy schedules and life, we don't often just get to have a day where it is just us and just being together. But on this day, I was reminded that our lives are full of peacefulness and cherished moments that God allows to take place so that we can remember them. We spent the day together just doing our normal routines. We cleaned the house, ran errands, went shopping, have a wonderful lunch, and decided to take some photos together too. As i take a step back and look at these photos I am reminded that we don't really have to be doing much but its in that not doing much that we have the best times. At the end of the day, here we are together. I want to remember being with you always. I want to cherish this moment and save it in my memory bank so that I can look back on it each and every time and smile. I love being with you. I love the fact that this little moment turned out to be a pretty big one because of us and the relationship we have. I am reminded that what I have always prayed for has come true... My relationship with you is very different from my own relationship with my mother and I am so thankful that the Lord heard my little prayer growing up...

Remember the scrap twist too! If you take on this challenge {please link your challenge on the Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog} you will be entered to win this... They have really cute stuff!! I used one of the cute bird felties on my layout!

$15 Gift Certificate to Crafty Girl Crafts... 

I can't wait to see what you create and come up with by showcasing those miracles in your lives!!!

#159 CS

Good Sunday morning! What a great day this is!
I awoke early to the quiet of the house, which I truly enjoy. I woke to the sun coming up and casting beautiful light everywhere! I love days like this. I hope that you do too!!!

Just another little blurb about Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog hop. 
Make sure that you leave comments on the main blog as well as the DT's blogs {my post} by 12am PST to be eligible for the cool prizes!

It's time for a Creative Scrappers reveal!!!

The sketch:

Here's my take:

Alyssa loved being in this play a lot and I loved that she was in it too!!!
Play along with this sketch, it will really get ya out of your box as it did mine!!!

Hoping friends that your Sunday is filled with the sunshine that is coming through my window causing me to smile!!!

Thank you!

Hello friends!
This weekend is beautiful out and I am sitting here enjoying every minute of it!
Remember to keep hopping with Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog hop and thank you already to everyone who has responded with such heart-felt
comments on my blog as well!
Keep them coming!

Today I just wanted to share thank-you's.

Recently I created some cards to say thank you to some pretty neat people! 

They were featured here.
Bazzill teamed up with my favorite's SRM Stickers and together I created these.

Hope that you say thank you to those in your life too!!!!
Enjoy your weekend!

Scrapping Everyday Miracles Blog Hop!!!

Hello sweet friends!

Isn't life sweet?

I certainly think so!

I am excited to bring you Scrapping Everyday Miracles first ever blog hop!
You should have come from Nicole's blog.

This blog hop is a tad different because not only are there cool prizes to be won, but the DT is going to be sharing a little about themselves with you all! 

I would like to share with you what God is doing right now in my life! That's right, if you didn't know it yet I'm a Christian!! Been walkin' with Jesus for over 10 years now and been strapped into the seat of a roller coaster with the Lord through ups, downs, twists, and turns.

Which brings me to where I am right now. 

God has a way of having us in our lives deal with the things at the time seem of the utmost importance. For me its been about my job. If you have been following, my job has really been a thorn in my side but recently there has been major huge breakthrough's and it is all because I chose to lay it down at the Lord's feet and not pick it back up again.

Here is the layout:

Journaling: where the Lord has me right now is letting go. finding peace and loving other. while that might seem a relatively easy thing to accomplish it isn't when you don't want to exactly let go, find peace, or love others in your life. so right now, He's clearly showing me that i must let go of things out of my control. give them to him and allow him to take care of them. i must find peace by letting go. i must have peace within my mind and body to alleviate stress because there is no need for it. and lastly i must love others. there are those that are in my life, have come and gone in  my life, or have passed through that i simply don't want to love. i must remember to love them as Christ does because He loves us all. as soon as i realized all of these things it was easy to begin to let them go. but that took time. learning, and putting it into practice. i am happy to say that seeing these things come to fruit within my life has brought me a sense of utter abandonment! because it just yet another thing that he has set me free from, praise the Lord!

There are many ways to win something, check it out below!!!

The first is, go visit each of the DT's blogs for inspiration become a follower and leave a comment on each DT blog. There are RAKS to win along the way and if you leave a comment at each blog you could also be eligible to win our grand prize!!! 



DT blog line up:


Scrapping Everyday Miracles
Nicole
Elizabeth
Jeannine
Lisa
Kline
Leigh
Roulien
Amanda

This is the RAK that I am offering!!!  

All you have to do is leave one comment and become a follower on this post on my blog to be eligible to win this from me...

www.scrapbook.com

In your comment on my blog, I want to know what's going on in your life. Whether you are walkin' with the Lord or not I want to know what's going on right now in your life. Where are you in your journey and what's going on in it? Then I'll draw a winner using the random generator and someone will win this lovely electronic GC from scrapbook.com!!!

Another way to win is go visit Scrapping Everyday Miracles and leave a comment there to be entered into out Grand Prize drawing!!!!


Scrapping Everyday Miracles grand prize sponsored by :

You have until Sunday June 5th @11:59pm PST to post your comments at Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog as well as commenting on each DT members blog. Winners will be announced Tuesday....

Don't forget to come back Monday for our First Challenge!

Tons of chances to win!
As well as meeting the design team and seeing where God is in their lives! 
Next DT member to hop to is Jeannine.