I REALLY miss Florida...and Happy Anniversary!

OK, today is my 16th wedding anniversary! Woohoo! And I can't think of a better man to have in my life all these years than my sweet Shane! We managed to get a babysitter last night and actually went to a really nice restaurant and listened to a live band! It was AWESOME! I am TRULY blessed. I know that all relationships have their ups and downs, but I can honestly say that Shane is, was and will always be my very best friend. For those that know me, you know I don't typically scrap "mushy stuff"...but I will share a couple of pictures from last night that MIGHT find their way on a scrapbook page some day! ;-) (oh...and I tried my first Appletini. Not sure I am crazy about martinis, but it certainly got better the more I drank! LOL)


So to my darling hubby...I LOVE YA BABE!!

On other news...we had a vicious ice storm the Friday before Christmas. A couple of big tree branches fell on Grandpa's car and we just noticed yesterday that it cracked the windshield. So I guess I will be calling the insurance co. tomorrow to get that taken care of. Grandpa doesn't drive it anymore, so at least it wasn't a really bad thing since we have 2 other cars. But this is what my front yard looked like...Nice, huh??


On a postive note, we never lost power. Thousands lost power for several days. Not good in record low temps and all the hotels booked up for the holidays!

Anyway, hope everyone had a great holiday!!

I miss Florida!

After being back for a couple weeks (and it feels MUCH longer)...I miss Florida!! Of course, after getting sick and now Logan is home from school sick, it hasn't been nearly as fun! LOL But it was totally worth it!!!! So I will leave you all with layout of Logan at the lake this summer.

Using more of the awesome Scrappin Sports and More papers! It is awesome because it is 2 sided and both sides are totally usable!! For the water, I busted out some OLD Fancy Pants chipboard (that I have recently decided I am forcing myself to use up)and covered it with SS&M paper with the help of my friend Mod Podge. (Yes, we are finally friends...we used to be true enemies as I couldn't get the stuff to stop bubbling up. Good thing it started to see things my way! LOL)

Got Game?

We sure do! Around this house, my son is obsessed with games. So I wouldn't be a good scrapper if I didn't document it, right? With the help of Scrappin Sports and More and awesome Boxer transparencies, I was able to do just that!

And hopefully, Santa will bring me a Wii Fit for Christmas so I, too, can use some awesome game paper!!...oh yeah...and get fit! ;-)

Homemade ornaments

The 2nd Challenge at Kids Can Scrap is to make a homemade ornament. Bailee was totally up for the challenge and made this oragami ornament out of scrapbook paper and stickers. Here it is hanging on our tree...

Didn't she do a great job? Oh...and this year we got a REAL tree...
At the lot...

and after...(ok, bad picture...but you get the idea!!)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...la la la la la...LOL And can I just tell you how AWESOME the house smells with this live tree??? YUM!!!

The Vacation projects have started...

check out the Boxer DT Blog for my first project! I used a MOSD clearly petite album and some awesome Boxer papers! I wanted a tag that I could attach to my Disney album so that I could quickly identify the Disney album.

Oh yeah...it officially happened. I went on vacation and now I am sick. Ugh! But it was worth it!!!

We're BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!

And can I just say that Disney was AMAZING!!!! We had such an awesome time and my feet are finally starting to not hurt! LOL We did 4 parks in 4 days...had wonderful weather...lived a dream...and realized that vacations are such an important part of life. I think it will be a lot sooner before our next adventure. I will load some pictures later, but I can't tell you how valuable it is to just go out there and scream and have fun! Bailee and Logan had a BLAST!!! We faced the Yeti...dropped 5 stories in the Tower of Terror...road the Aerosmith Roller Coaster...and watched the most amazing shows and fireworks!!!

ETA: Here are some of my fav pictures...and OH YES!! I am getting ready to scrap these babies!!!
Here is Expedition Everest...AKA "The Yeti Ride"


Shane and I at Epcot...Bailee took the picture! Didn't she do a good job?


and finally (because Blogger is being a pain...)the kids with the BOLT characters...




And when we got back...we learned that Bailee and Logan had each won a prize at Kids Can Scrap! How fun is that? The 2nd Challenge is up...so if you have kids...make sure to let them play along!!

Oh...and I finally got my SLICE! Woohoo!!! So hopefully today...between running around and trying to get laundry and this house back in order, I will have time to play with it!! I am hoping to have a Slice party sometime, although with the holidays, I am not sure when I will do it. But when I do, I promise to include my dear blogging buddies with an on-line blog party with Slice give aways!! Stay tuned...

Scrap the Music

OK, so getting ready for vacation, I really am running against time, but when I checked out this week's scrap the music challenge, it just called to me. So I grabbed my favorite adult beverage (picture) and got my scrap on!!!



I have actually loved this song ever since I heard it on the Good Morning Vietnam Soundtrack (yes, I know it is older than that, but I'm not! LOL). But what a PERFECT song to sing right before I leave for DISNEY!!!!!

Kids Can Scrap Challenge #1

OK, so it was inevitable that my kids would be scrappers, right? There is this awesome new challenge blog for kids only!! It's called Kids Can Scrap and they are holding their first challenge this month. Here is what my little scrappers came up with...

Bailee (age 12)...


and here are Logan's creations (age 6)...



If you haven't checked out this blog and you have kids, I highly recommend it!!

Some more Scrappin Sports projects to share...

Can I just tell you how I LOVE the Scrappin Sports papers?!?! These were a couple of my November projects I wanted to share with you! I am now officially live from my hotel room where I will be for the rest of the week. The good news...I packed a BUNCH of scrappy stuff to play with since I didn't have to watch kids, fix dinner, etc. Now if I can get my camera to upload to this laptop, I might have a few things to share!

High School Musical 3

Have you been drug to see this movie yet? I took Bailee on opening weekend and I have to admit, I actually enjoyed the movie. It is sort of the Grease of her generation. Being the good daughter of a scrapper (DOS), she promptly posed for me outside the movie theatre and this layout was born! The cut out of Troy and Gabriella are from a book cover she got at the Disney Store and the chipboard comes from the awesome Magistical Memories Oh...and the cool musical note paper is one of the newer lines from Boxer!

Million Dollar Friend Award

Thanks Gloria for bestowing on me this award!

I guess that means I should pass along the love...

And the awards go to (in no particular order)...

Jen H. - because you always say what you feel and you make me laugh out loud!!

Sue - because you are thoughtful and caring and the world's best grandma!!

Tricia - gotta give love to my fellow social workers!!

Christy AKA Mrs. Crabtree - girlie, you know words can't even describe what your friendship means to me (sniff!!)

and finally...

Alicia - You have stood by me through the good and the bad and for that I will always be grateful!! You truly rock chick!!

Ok...so there you have it. Now go be fruitful and multiply...or divide...or add...or whatever you are supposed to be doing! :-)

See what a clean scraproom will do?

I am a scrapping fool lately!!! Woohoo!!! And the best part...I am going on a business trip next week and will have all my evenings alone in my hotel room to scrap (well, except for the nights when I meet with friends, but still...) I am not looking forward to the long work days, but I am looking forward to the nights to scrap and relax. I know that Shane will do a wonderful job with my munchkins, so I can breathe a sigh of relief.

OK...have to share one of my layouts I did with some really awesome Magistical Memories Chipboard...(who can resist POTTY PEOPLE??? I mean REALLY???)

Has anyone seen Surf's Up?? One of the characters calls all his trophies "Ladies" and Logan has decided that is what his trophies should be called. He even named them women's names. That kid cracks me up on a daily basis, I swear!!!

And a final share for the night...I AM GONNA BE AN AUNT!!! (Ok, so I am already an aunt) but Shane's sister is having a BABY!!!!! This is the sister that Bailee went to stay with in Florida...the infamous "Aunt Ashley" of whom my daughter adores. Bailee is over the moon excited about it and so are we. So please join with me and saying a pray (or a kind thought) that they have a healthy baby and an easy pregnancy. WE LOVE YOU ASHLEY AND JASON (and baby!!!!)

Want to win some MORE free stuff?

Apparently I am your "free stuff" connection. LOL This time I wanted to tell you all about some free chipboard goodness. Just go over to the Magistical Memories Blog and leave a comment and you could WIN!!! Good luck!!! By the way, I must tell you that this is an AWESOME prize. I recently was chosen to go on to Round 2 of their DT contest and this is the prize package I will be working with. Here is one of the layouts I did with it...


I have to say I had WAY too much fun playing with all the different elements! Oh yeah...and my scraproom is FINALLY clean so I can actually work in there again!

I will leave you all with some pictures from the hockey game we went to tonight. Komets WON!!! GOOOOOOO KOMETS!!!!

Camping

Every year we go camping at Shane's dad's place for Shane's bday. Here are a couple layouts I did from the pictures I had taken. I used my new Scrappin Sports and More paper!!! Woohoo!

Wanna win some cool stuff???

Come over to the MOSD Blog and leave a comment on my most recent post and tell me what kind of intracacies you would design (hint...the above layout is a Car-themed intracacy) and you could WIN!!! Tell your friends...spread the word!!

Halloween...the aftermath...

OK, had to share a few pics from yesterday's adventures from Trick or Treating...






There you have it...the whole Blinn crew (except Grandpa, of course...he was busy watching TV). Hope everyone had a great Halloween!! Can't WAIT to scrap these pictures!!

I can finally spill the beans!!!

OK, the reason I needed a new avatar was because I made the DT for Scrappin Sports & More!!! I found out a couple of days ago and have been dying to spill it!!! SS&M is located in Ohio about an hour from me. So cool! I love their products and can't wait to start designing for them. I know, I know...what happened to simplifying?? Well, I have made some decisions lately that I think will help me get organized and be a better me. I have such a hard time with the word NO...both saying it and accepting it. So that is my new goal...so if you want something...NO! LOL Not really...just kidding! But I have had to set limits on what I can physically accomplish. I am but one person and although I play the role of SuperMom/Social Worker/Wife/whatever...I need to hang up my cape and focus on the really important things. Like this...

This was one of my entries for SS&M. But most of all...it is a silly time where Logan decided he wanted to be a swimming teacher (it's in the journaling that is probably impossible to read). So, thanks for sharing my good news with me...and my journey to get back to the basics!!

New picture...

Ok...so I really needed to update my avatar, so I had Shane take a picture of me tonight. What do you think?
Here is the Black and White version...

Sock Monkey LOVE...

So while Bailee and I were Target a while back, I found these AWESOME sock monkey slippers. This began my love for sock monkeys. Bailee and I ordered a kit to make a sock monkey and Stampin Up even has a sock monkey stamp!! Well, as I was sitting there admiring my new slippers, I remembered that "someone" made sock monkey paper...so I did a search and found that one of my favorite stores...A Peek into Yesterday carried the papers!! Even better...they had a sketch contest using an AWESOME Becky Fleck sketch...and this layout was born.



To my surprise...I won the sketch contest. BONUS!!! It's a good day! oh...and if anyone has any good leads on sock monkey stuff...I am officially addicted!

Allow me to Reminisce!

OK, as many of you know, I am NOT an altered artist. My altered art needs a PURPOSE, so I guess that makes me an altered realist or something like that! LOL Well, I found a project that I REALLY enjoyed making! The last time Reminisce had a layout contest, I won 2nd Place and got all these AWESOME papers! Well, I used some of the winter paper (because it was really sparkly) to make this Christmas ornament.



So basically, I cut random sized stripes and wrapped them around this paper mache' ball with Mod Podge. I waited (and prayed) for everything to dry and tied some ribbons on the top and viola! Bailee handed me strips of paper while I glued. I have a feeling both kids are gonna make me go back to Hobby Lobby and get more of these ornaments to make.

So there you have it...a homemade ornament (and it's not even October yet!!) Crazy!! I know!!

Wanna win some stuff??

Becky Fleck is have a contest on her blog. Use her sketch and YOU could WIN an awesome prize from Midnight Oil! So give it a shot!!! I'll be watching to see if any of my blog buddies win!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

1 hour to scrap...

I have seen advertisements for the 1 hour sketch contest at creative scrapper, but I had never had time to participate. Frankly, I NEVER have time to do anything...I just MAKE the time. So tonight I watched Fringe (AWESOME show by the way) and got my scrap on...

Here is my take on the sketch (and my silly kids when we went to the Picture People)..

Well folks, it seems the time I make for scrapping is seriously cutting into my bedtime, so I am off to dreamland! Have a good one!!

It's Hip 2 B Square!

So MOSD has an awesome 6x6 Cover to Cover album called Hip to be Square. I had so much fun working on this. I had recently gotten some of Teresa Collin's Christmas paper and they are PERFECT for these albums.


These albums are so much fun to work with. 6x6 is a fun size and sooooo easy with these papers. I already have one Christmas gift done! Woohoo!!

Toot! Toot!!

OK, I have to admit I was getting a BIT burned out with the scrapping world lately...or maybe it is just that school just started and life has become one big rat race...oh and I had a flat tire yesterday...but either way...I got an e-mail today that my layout was accepted to be published in the 'A Scrapper's Year' Idea Book. So exciting! This is my first idea book publication...unless you count Scrapbook Blueprints, but either way...soooo exciting!!! It is also my first Memory Makers publication.

Thanks for letting me share!! Guess I'd better go get dressed and get the rats ready for today's race! =)

Game On!!

OK...did I ever tell you how HARD it is to paint a soccer ball?!?! But when I saw this Paper Trunk chip wheel, I knew I needed to use it for Logan's Soccer Clinic pictures. The wheel turns around for more pictures and journaling.

Logan thought he was SO COOL at this clinic. They played with local college teams and he thought he was playing the big boys. You should've seen him strut across the field. It make me literally laugh out loud. He even practiced hitting the ball with his head over and over and over. What a tough guy he is!!

Dude!!

Yep...still doing Florida layouts...but the good news is...the album is almost completed! Yeah...I said it! COMPLETED!!!! I even have the pages in an ALBUM *faint*. So for this layout, I decided to do a challenge over on the Rusty Pickle Blog. I had gotten these papers last year and just fell in love with them. I mean, who doesn't love papers with sea turtles? Seriously? I also tried a little "out of the box" journaling and used masking tape. It was refreshing (and a little bit scary...that stuff sticks and you can't get it up!!!).

Ok Dudes...guess I'd better go! (yep...with a 12 year old in the house...this is our new 4-letter word! Ugh!!!)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

This is the last exhibit at the Botanical Gardens here in my town. We go there at least quarterly with the kids to see the new exhibits and gardens. It is always amazing! This one had real butterflies, etc. When I saw this Becky Fleck sketch, I immediately thought of these pictures (even though the sketch got flipped around a bit). The caterpillar is a picture I had taken of one of the signs and the paper is one of my FAVORITE Scenic Route papers (one paper, both sides).

We just got back from seeing Iron Man. OK, I know I am late with everything! LOL But it was awesome! Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

It's a Piggy Party!!!

OK, so here you go Bucket, my toe-obsessed friend! Before I left for CHA, Bailee and I had a "piggy party". The weather was really nice, so we went out on the back patio and painted our toes. We then had a little fun with the photo shoot, too. As for the Pig...I got him at CHA from the Paper House booth. They had a ton of die cuts that you could choose from and I thought..."this would be great because we go to the zoo all the time"...ok, so maybe not! Add a crown and this piggy is "Fancy" (Just like our toes)! LOL

So here's my challenge to all my blog readers...do something fun today! If you have kids...do something fun with them. Celebrate life...take a photo shoot...and dress up your pigs!!

It's Christmas in July!!

OK, so I am not really ready for snow yet, but who doesn't like a party??? My friends at Scrapadilly are having a crop this weekend, so please come over and join us. After CHA, who doesn't have a little extra mojo to get out? Come on...you know you want to!!! Make sure to tell 'em Shannon sent ya!!

And the winning continues...

OK, so Reminisce and I have been good buddies for a while now! LOL The last time they had a DT call, I got honorable mention and had my work displayed at CHA Winter 2008. Well, they had another contest recently using thier Signature Series papers and I won 2nd Place. I am SOOOO excited. You can check it out here on their blog!!! This is my little man with his best soccer face! He's HARDCORE ya'll! LOL (I wonder if I should share my prize with him now?)

Thanks for letting me share. I must say it's been a good day (Hey Sarah...can you guess the lyrics??? *wink*)

I'm back!

Did you miss me? I had a great time at CHA! I've also been busy post-CHA with projects for both Boxer and Midnight Oil. A special thank you goes out to Alicia for letting me borrow her cat, Celeste. I was able to work with the AWESOME new cat albums from Boxer and use her precious furbaby pictures. Check out my album on the Boxer DT Blog (listed on the sidebar).

Hope everyone had a great week!

Oh yeah...I won a SLICE at CHA. Pretty sweet, huh?

Oh yeah...Bucket...this is totally for you...these are my pre-CHA feet! You know you love em!