ScrapMatters Birthday Blog Train!!

Come on ride the train, hey ride it - woo woo

Come on ride the train, it's the choo choo train...

You have arrived at your next stop on the ScrapMatters Birthday Bash Blog Train. You should have just come from Jen's (Abcmomof4) blog at http://www.wolfffpack6.blogspot.com/

And your next stop will be to Tracie's (marto_gal_30) blog at http://siggypiggy.wordpress.com/

But before you leave, don't forget to grab your freebie from me - a fun pack of cupcake toppers, which are versatile enough to be used as gift bag tags or scrapbook page embellishments. There are two sheets - one with black background papers and one with white background papers - each with 9 designs. The toppers are 2 5/16" so they can easily be cut with a 2 5/16" paper punch...just print, punch, attach and you're done! Easy peasy!!

So sorry - this freebie has expired!! But you can still grab the amazing kit HERE at ScrapMatters

As a reminder, this free download will only be available for ONE week...so grab it before it's gone! In case you get derailed at some point along the blog train, you can see the complete list HERE on the ScrapMatters Blog. And don't forget about all the wonderful festivities going on this weekend in celebration of ScrapMatters 3rd Birthday!! Here's the full schedule of events...

And the ScrapMatters Sale will continue through the entire week...

So, that's about it! Thanks for stopping by...I hope you're enjoying all the fabulous FREE goodies the SM designers and creative team have created for you!! Have a choo-riffic day!!

 

 Ride that choo choo - woo woo

Come on it's the choo choo - woo woo

Come on it's the choo choo train...

MIA...

In case you are wondering where we've been...we're not hiding, we've just been really busy this week. The girls are participating in a cheer-nastics camp where I have been helping out at the "Team Mom." They are a little young for the group (it's supposed to be for ages 5-12), but despite a few rough moments they seem to LOVE it...especially the gymnastics.

They have made some fun friends and it's been so neat for me to watch Aiden and Reilly branch out and interact with new people. Aiden in particular became quick friends with an older girl names Isabella...Reilly just seems content to flitter around from person to person, coach to coach, doing her own thing and having a good time. The coaches have been absolutely wonderful with the girls...very patient and understanding of their limited attention span. The group had a little dance-off earlier this week...both Reilly and Aiden were in the "finale" and wouldn't you know that it was little Miss Aiden who won...thanks to some wicked cool break dancing moves. If I can remember to grab the flip, I'll try to get some video of her so you can see her get her groove on. These two girls seriously crack me up...they never cease to amaze me. There will be an end of camp showcase on Friday, so I'll definitely have some pictures to post then.

And if you're reading this, thanks for not giving up on me...summer has been fun and crazy and wonderful...which means less time on the computer and more time hanging out as a family. Eventually I'll get caught up with photos and journaling and all that jazz...until then, just know we love and appreciate all of our family members and friends!

Later gators!

Scrap Haps - ScrapMatters

Time to share what I've created this month with some truly wonderful products from ScrapMatters!!

Old Glory Collab Kit by Trixie Scraps and Designs by Sarah Bennett

A Little Patriotic Alpha from Designs by Sarah Bennett

Krafty Paper Pack from Designs by Sarah Bennett 

Growth Spurt by Jennifer Barrette Designs (stitching)

Doodlie-Do Page Border by Britt-ish Designs

Bug Catcher by Chelle's Creations

Growth Spurt by Jennifer Barrette Designs

Walking on Sunshine collab by Jennifer Barrette Designs and Tracie Stroud

Park Play collab by Jennifer Barrette Designs and Melissa Bennett

Spring Has Sprung from The Design Girl

Sew It Over - Borders by Stolen Moments Designs

Everybody Loves Kraft by Stolen Moments Designs

I Scream, You Scream! by The Design Girl

scalloped edge from Exit #3 collab by Stolen Moments Designs and Girl.Boy.Girl Designs by Jen Balding

Doodlie-Do Borders by Britt-ish Designs

Snip-tastic B&W Alpha by Jennifer Barette Designs

Ice Ice Baby by Jennifer Barrette Designs

Paper Pieces Template Set by Plum Dumpling Designs

Date Material Vol. 2 by Happy Scrap Girl

Firecracker by LawTeeDa Designs

Just the Solids - White from Creations by Rachael

Date Material Vol.2 by Happy Scrap Girl

Doodlie-Do Page Borders by Britt-ish Designs

alpha from Waterpark Collab by Sahlin Studio and Jacque Larsen

 

Flutter by, Butterfly by The Design Girl

Sunshine and Daffodils by Sahlin Studio (white butterflies)

Spray Dot alpha by WM[squared]

"beautiful" wordart by Taylormade Designs

Tiny Dancer collab by Britt-ish Designs and Fluffy Bunny Feet Designs

In Stitches: Basics by Britt-ish Designs

Adventures in Reading by Plum Dumpling Designs

Iconology: Everyday by Plum Dumpling Designs

Round the Block Template by Man In The Moon Designs

Paper Cuts from Designs by Sarah Bennett (retired)

Garden Party from The Design Girl (ribbon and ric rac)

Sweetest Days by Erica Zane (round stitching)

Vintage Vogue Bundle by Sahlin Studio

Vintage Worn and Torn Papers by Sahlin Studio

Everyday Love Wordart by Sahlin Studio

Frosted Acrylic Alpha by Sahlin Studio

Good Clean Fun by Man in the Moon Designs

Template by Erica - guest CT for WM[squared] designs

Make a Wish Collab by Sahlin Studio and Valorie Wibbons

Flutter by, Butterfly from The Design Girl (yellow ribbon)

Vintage Vogue Bundle by Sahlin Studio

Make a Wish collab by Sahlin Studio and Valorie Wibbens

Embossed Frames by Sahlin Studio

Spray Dot Alpha by WM[squared]

Thanks for stopping by!! Hopes your month was super-duper fantastic!!

Final Departure - Sarah Bennett Designs

So sad to mention that Sarah Bennett - one of the designers I have been fortunate enough to CT for - is hanging up her designer hat and retiring. Although it means we will no longer see new creations from Sarah in the ScrapMatters shop, it does mean that Sarah will get to spend more time with her family - a truly wonderful thing, indeed. And Sarah has decided to say good-bye in style, meaning - all items in the Designs by Sarah Bennett shop (excluding SM Design Team collabs) are 50% off.

Also, some of the gals on the CT put together a farewell blog train of some fabulous templates - I wasn't able to get one made in time, but that doesn't mean you should miss out on account of me! Here is the complete list of stops for the blog train:

          CT Blog http://designsbysarahbennett.blogspot.com/ <---Start HERE

          Katie: http://scrappingwithkatie.blogspot.com/
          Amanda: http://mandasmemories.blogspot.com/
          AmyP: http://amyp-unforgettablemoments.blogspot.com/
          Britanee: http://britaneesscraps.blogspot.com/
          Janine: http://digitalscrappinrocks.blogspot.com/
          AmyM: http://melniczenkomusings.blogspot.com/

and then you should stop by Sarah's store to grab some super cute things at super low prices (discount will appear in your shopping cart)!! Sarah is making a quick departure - her products will only be available through July 31st. Happy shopping...and a sad farewell to Sarah. I wish you all the best!!

Catching Up...

Running in the sprinklers at Granma L's...gotta make the best of triple digit temps!

 

 

Playing with the camera early Sunday morning while mama & papa were asleep and totally unaware...

Aiden - the culprit

 

Reilly - the accomplice

 

Goofing off at the beach...and getting papa to join in the fun

 

Good times...such a fun summer...living it up in good ol' So Cal! Feel free to come on by anytime and join in the fun...we love having visitors!

Rascally Rodents...

So...it appears we have a mouse.

A mouse that likes chocolate brownies.

The gooey middle part of the brownies.

And the top flakes.

But not the edges.

This little mouse is sneaky.

And quiet...she didn't even make a squeak.

Although I didn't catch the mouse in action,

I think she looks something like this...

We have decided to call the mouse Roo.

*******************************************************

The girls and I picked up Doug from work for a lunch date at Costco. The following conversation took place while driving to pick him up...

Roo: Mom...guess what I saw last night?

Me: What?

Roo: A MOLE!

Me: A mole? Where did you see that?

Roo: In my house...

Aiden (in the background): Grandpa's house has moles...lots of them. In his yard.

Me:  Hmmm...what was the mole's name?

Roo: Diggy...Diggy the mole.

Me: Really? And he was really in the house, huh?

Roo: Yup. He was in my tree...my special flower tree.

Me: And what was he doing in the tree?

Roo: Well...he wasn't in the tree for long. He was digging. Digging a hole...cuz that's what moles do.

Aiden (in the background): Moles dig lots of holes in Grandpa's yard...I saw them last night when we were there.

Roo: Do you know what he was digging for, mom?

Me: No. What was he digging for?

Roo: My buried treasure...the one I hid in the ground.

Me: Really? Did he find it?

Roo: No. He didn't get my gold...but when I looked for it this morning, I couldn't find it. It must be lost.

Aiden: Oh-no, Reilly! That wasn't very nice...I don't like those stinky moles.

Roo: It's okay Aiden...I don't think Digger took the buried treasure. Because he's my friend. And friends don't take things. If he took it he would bring it back.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love these girls? They provide endless entertainment and have such great imaginations. Reilly is proving to be our talker...and she loves to tell stories just like her papa and Granpa H. Aiden is turning out to be our artistic one...she loves paper and drawing and practicing her letters. And don't worry...there wasn't really a mole. Or a mouse. The only two rascally rodents in this house are our two little girls...and I happen to think they are the two cutest little rodents around!!

I Scream, You Scream...

Today is National Ice Cream Day...so make sure to treat yourself to some variation of this delectible treat.

Happy Sunday!

You are Marvelous...

As I was going through trying to catch up on everybody's blogs, I came across a very touching video about Stephanie Neilson and how her views of motherhood and beauty have changed since she survived a plane crash a few years ago. Totally inspirational...and humbling...and very much worth watching.

From Stephanie's video I found the following...a video clip made from a talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. The talk was a good reminder, a much needed pep talk...and something I wish I believed in myself right NOW. It's no secret that I have struggled with self-confidence issues for years...even more so since I became a mother...but I am working on believing more in myself and I will get there eventually. One day at a time.

As a warning, if you are prone to "flash flooding" like me, then you may want to have a tissue handy...I have come to believe that the spirit speaks most clearly to me through my tears.

Scrap Haps - Funky Playground Designs

I'm hosting a new Technique Challenge at FPD this week...the focus is to bring some super fun colors into your scrapbook layouts through your photos. Here's a peek at the layout I created for the challenge...

Also...the very talented designers have been busy preparing for the July Lost and Found sale and a special Blog Train....visit the FPD Blog for the blog train links and more information.

And, to finish this post off, here are some of my recent pages using all sorts of fabulous FPD products...

 

Juicy Paper Pack by Recherche by KH Designs and Heart of Mine by Donna Duncombe

Fruity Smothie kit and Template Pack by Shanmomto4 Designs and Michelle Batton Designs

Sunshine, Lollipops, & Rainbows collab by Jennilyn Designs and Recherche by KH Designs

Kaleidoscopic by Misty O'Brien

 

Fruit Punch collab by 4 Shades of Blue Designs and Girl.Boy.Girl Designs by Jen Balding

Thanks for stopping by!! Have a wonderful day and an even better weekend!!

Hello Dear Friend...

...it appears we'll be working together again! Looking forward to it...not the overnight hours, exactly, but the pay and employee discount sure will help take the edge off things!!

Food, Shopping, and Fun...

  

New summer flip-slops = $1.99 x 2

  

Ice cream cones = $1.19 x 2

 

Carousel rides = $1.00 x 2

Grand total of our fun-filled day = $8.36...it was well worth every penny!!