P.S. I Love You...

I should start by saying that it's been ages since I've been to a movie! My friend, Laurel, has asked a few times lately, but it just hasn't worked out, so when it did last night and we decided to go see something I'd been wanting to see, P.S. I Love You, I was looking forward to it.

I was smart enough not to go and look at the reviews at Rotten Tomatoes because I figured this would be the kind of movie that reviewers wouldn't like anyway and I was going to make my own mind up.

My Verdict - P.S. I Loved It!

OK, so it's not going to win an Academy Awards, but it was a great combination of love, fun, tears, laughs, and sorrow. The people in it were great and what's not to like when you've got Gerard Butler and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (who was Denny on Grey's Anatomy) to look at! I've always like Hillary Swank and though this was a little bit different role for her, I liked her in it. I think that it was good that I only knew the basic premise though and hadn't heard much else.

I will recommend taking some Kleenex though as there are some really sad moments. All I wanted to do was come home and give George a huge hug! It's a movie that reminds you of what you've got and to be thankful for it every day because you never know what life has in store for you.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and gets out to see a movie! I'd love to hear about anything you've seen that you'd recommend!

Cheers,
Colleen

Santa is Coming to Town

OK, well, he's actually come and gone, but this is the photographic proof now in layout form!

Supplies: Cardstock is Bazzill. Patterned paper is Basic Grey and Deja Views. Ribbon is Amuse. Title rub-on is Scenic Route. Title chipboard is American Crafts Thickers. Distressed edges with Heidi Swap Edge Distresser.

The funny thing is that when I finished it, I wasn't even sure I like it, but it's growing on me now. I really love that Basic Grey Figgy Pudding line! The little "present" is covering some ugly sign that was on the post in the background that was bugging me!

Scrapperie Blog Topic: Blog about something new you'd like to try this year!

Well, I've decided that I'm going to try the Photo a Day thing at Photojojo! I may not upload pictures every day since it's easier to do them a few at a time, but I am going to try. They may not all be great, but it should be fun! I'm going to try and post them here from time to time, but also keep them all in one place at Flickr. Should be a fun little adventure. I'd love a new camera to do it with, but not for the time being...

Better run for now and get some other things done since I think I'm actually going to go to a movie tonight and see P.S. I Love You. Stay tuned for the review tomorrow...

Have a fantastic evening everyone!

Cheers,
Colleen

My First Bind It All Mini Book!

OK, I really had fun playing with this! I just got started last night and knew that I'd better just leave it or I'd be up late playing. The funny thing is that it really didn't take me long! I used my November Scrapperie kit (Rock the Casbah) and some scrap paper and that was about it!

Supplies: Chipboard is Zutter. Cardstock is Bazzill. Patterned paper is Reminisce. Stickers on the outside and inside of the front cover are Reminisce. Ribbon is American Crafts (on front). Other misc ribbon. Scalloped strip is Doodlebug. Black lettering is American Crafts Vinyl Thickers. Rub-on on the cover is Making Memories. Paper for the inside was scraps!

I did make one mistake on my fist go at this and it really only made a difference because of something I didn't like about the chipboard anyway. I wouldn't use this precut size again (6.2 inches) because it means you only get one piece out of a 12X12. I'd rather cut my own to exactly 6X6 and do it that way. As a result, I covered what was to be the back and front with the patterned paper and the inside covers with cardstock, but then promptly forgot that when I was punching my holes and forgot to flip the back cover so that the holes would be on the correct side, so now that piece with the patterned paper is the inside back cover and the outside back cover is cardstock. Not the end of the world and I won't make that mistake again.

I also have a few bubbles under the paper of the first cover I did because I didn't run over it with a ruler to get all the air out. Once I did that with the ruler on the second one, it was perfectly flat - makes sense! This was just so easy and fun though! I'll be doing lots more of these little books!

Cheers,
Colleen

So many things going on in my brain...

I often have this problem at the beginning of the year when I feel refreshed and invigorated about trying some new things. The only problem is that it creates a lack of sleep because I can't sleep with so much going on in my brain!


I'll start with the post I left on Ali Edwards' blog about her One Little Word yesterday...

I think I've decided my word for the year will be OPEN! I like it in it's many grammatical forms and it has a lot of possibilities in terms of meaning. I think it'll be fun to play with this explore it through the year! I need to do some work on this because it's going to be a year of change and I'm going to need to be open to what lies ahead!

Cheers and Happy New Year!

There are going to be some changes happening this year with schedules changing for us and me thinking about what that means for myself, George, work and the kids. I want to make some positive changes for myself in different areas of my life (more to come on that) and that'll mean being open to where that leads me.

According to the American Heritage Dictionary, here's the meaning -

open(ō'pən)

adj.
Affording unobstructed entrance and exit; not shut or closed.
Affording unobstructed passage or view

Having no protecting or concealing cover
Completely obvious; blatant
Available; obtainable
Not yet decided; subject to further thought

v.tr.
To release from a closed or fastened position.
To remove obstructions from; clear.
To make or force an opening in.
To unfold so that the inner parts are displayed.
To make more responsive or understanding.
To reveal the secrets of; bare.

phrasal verb:
open up
open (one's) eyes

I love all the possibilities and places to go with this and it'll be fun to play with!

Well, it's back to work for me with Sophia being here shortly. It's a cold, windy, rainy day out there, so I don't think we'll be doing too much. The day started well though with me getting up early and getting my exercise done even though I didn't fall asleep until late last night with so much going on in my brain. I'm proud of myself for not making excuses and just doing it!

Hope to get some picking up and laundry done around here today. I'm also in purge mode again and want to get rid of some things and want to start that as well! I'd also like to get in some scrapping or at least some creativity of some kind today too! Busy day planned by the sounds of things!

Hope yours is great!
Cheers,
Colleen

Happy 2008!

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~ Oprah Winfrey

We had a quiet evening around here, but an enjoyable one nonetheless! George made Butter Chicken and picked up some naan (Indian bread), pakora, and samosas. Made for a delicious dinner and then we really splurged and had some appies later on in the evening: M&M zucchini sticks and potato skins!

I ended up being a bit lazy and watching TV. I kept thinking I should scrap, but just wasn't quite in the mood and decided I wasn't going to do it if I didn't feel like it on the last night of the year! George played World of Warcraft and Kyle hung out with Daddy most of the night. We let Kyle stay up the latest he's ever been up - 11pm! The funny thing is that he didn't even really sleep in, so he'll be having a nap today.

George and I were awake at midnight though we did go to bed about 11:30. We were tired, but I sort of wanted to stay awake, so we chatted, or I bugged him until midnight and then I got my kiss and I think we were asleep at about 12:02!



We got got out to the park this morning and had a great time. George even remembered to take the video camera as well as me taking the digi, so we got some fun pics too! George's parents are coming over for a visit a bit later and the boys are down for a nap, so maybe I'll see if I can go and scrap something while all's quiet around here!

Cheers,
Colleen

Happy New Year!

Here's a little look at our year in pictures in no particular order!

Well, it really is hard to believe that we're almost at 2008, but here we are! It's been a fun and interesting year with me being at home and starting to take care of Sophia as well as continuing to work at the store. It was my first year as a stay at home mum and I'm very grateful for that and hope that I'll be able to stay a stay at home mum for a little longer!

Here's a little look back:

• Nathan had his 1st birthday in January and we had our big family birthday party that included birthdays for Grandpa (my dad), Great Grandma (GG), George and Nathan as well as a few more!
• I took the boys to the dentist and it was another first for Nathan (Jan)!
• Kyle started Kindermusik again (Feb) as well as starting preschool on Valentine's Day!
• Kyle went to see the Wiggles (in March) with Nana and I thanks to Nana and Grandpa.
• We got wonderful news from Children's Hospital (in March) that Nathan's issue with his enlarged kidneys seemed to be correcting itself as he grew and that they didn't need to see him for a whole year!
• Tracy went back to work and I started taking care of Sophia 4 days a week (April)!
• Thanks to dad, we took a family road trip to San Francisco in June to see Scott, Toni and Jade (June)! George and I also got to see our first Nascar Race at Sonoma!
• I made my first scrapbooking design team for Scrapperie.com!
• Kyle started preschool again in September at a different preschool that he loves!
• A visit from Julie and Simon and their boys Alex and Rhys all the way from Australia.

Those are some of the many highlights and things we have to be thankful for! It's been a year full of wonderful family celebrations and little visits with both friends and family.

I really do want to say thanks to everyone that drops by my blog to read once in a while too! I've really enjoyed blogging about the ups and downs of what is the crazy life we lead in this house as well as about all my scrappbooking stuff. I have so very much to be thankful for and doing this and being able to share it makes sure that I remember all those little things!

Here's to a great 2008!
Cheers,
Colleen

Christmas catch-up!

OK, well, here's a glimpse at the past week or so now! It always seems to go so quickly, but since we cut down on pretty much everything (presents, visiting, etc) even more this year than last (and we cut down last year!!), we seemed to be able to relax and enjoy it a little more too! So in no particular order, here are some of the things we got up to this year...

• a trip to see the "Rock and Roll House" as Kyle calls it where they have the lights and music synchronized - amazing!
• funny pictures of Kyle in the Santa hat since it seems to be impossible to get a "normal" picture of him these days!
• opening presents Christmas morning with just the four of us and that was new this year
• Kyle decorating a gingerbread man with Auntie Tracy on Christmas Eve when we were there for Chinese food. Chinese food on Christmas Eve has been an annual tradition since I was a kid...
• Christmas dinner at my aunt and uncle's house with my extended family including my almost 92 year old (her birthday is in January) grandma
• making cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve
• decorating the tree though it was done late this year
• building Lego on Christmas morning - another first in our house, but not the last I'm sure
• George's French toast "wifesaver" with real maple syrup for breakfast Christmas morning
• Boxing Day with George's family though the batteries in the camera unfortunately died, so I didn't get any pictures, but we did get some video of the kids with their 100 year old Opi
• ornaments for the kids though Kyle is honestly still waiting for his because we couldn't find what we were looking for: Shrek. Nathan got an Elmo one!
• the kids got to open one present on Christmas Eve and it was pjs from Nana and Grandpa though Nathan isn't wearing them in our Christmas mornings pictures because we had to change him first thing since he woke up wet!

I'm sure there are things I've missed, but all of those things made for a wonderful holiday! Hope yours was equally as fabulous and here's to a great 2008!

Cheers,
Colleen

Another tag layout...

I've been holding onto this one until all the layouts were posted over at Scrapshotz. It was done before Christmas, but then I haven't been blogging much since then, so I'm adding it here.



Supplies: Cardstock is Bazzill. Patterned papers are Imaginesce Timeless Blooming Brocade, MME Wild Asparagus, Scenic Route Harvest Harlequin Chestnut, and Daisy D (burgundy paper though it had a stripe on the other side). Brad are Making Memories as are the foam stamps I used. Ink is VersaColor Bamboo.

This was one of those layouts where I just wanted to play a little and I let all that perfectionism go. The lettering for the title isn't quite the way I'd have liked, but I ended up heat embossing it and like the texture! It was fun scrapping some old pics of Kyle!

Well, I've got another day with just the boys and they want to go out and play in the snow later, so we'll see about that. I'm still in my jammies, but I work at 6 tonight, so that'll have to change at some point later this afternoon - when Nathan naps no doubt. I'm hoping the weather cooperates as I'm working 6-midnight at my lss and I don't want the roads to be treacherous coming home!

With any luck, I'll get something scrapped this afternoon as well...
Cheers,
Colleen

Scrapperie Subscription Incentive

Sandi just posted a new incentive on Scrapperie kits:

For the rest of this month and the month of January, any new six month subscribers will receive their choice of month at HALF OFF the list price! For instance, order a six month PDR subscription and in March (or any other month of YOUR choice) you can have that kit at 50% the normal list price of $52.50! There's nothing special you have to do to order, just order as normal through The Boutique and when you're ready to use your half off discount, just let me know. It's that simple!

If your subscription just ended and you would like to renew, this offer also applies to you! It's our way of saying "Thank you" in the new year.

Go check out her fabulous kits and get yourself signed up!
Cheers,
Colleen

Some Christmas Creativity...

Well, OK, so I left the calendar that I was going to make my in-laws for Christmas until the last minute! The good news is that I did actually manage to get it done and it was a big kit. Because I was busy doing it at the last minute, I unfortunately did have time to scan all the layouts, but here are a few I did using my Scrapperie kits! These were a bit more of a challenge for me because they needed to be quite flat and I LOVE dimension!!

This was the April layout and was done with the Social Butterfly kit.



This was the February and was done with the current Glad Tidings kit.



This was the March layout and was done with the Indian Summer kit.



This was, of course, the December layout and was done with the current Glad Tidings kit and was the boys Santa picture from this year!



So glad that I was able to finish this and I'd definitely do this again - wonderful gift! I hope to have more layouts done with the Glad Tidings kit to post soon, but in the meantime, here's the sneak peek at the Scrapperie January kit!



Well, this is it for now because the troops (Kyle and Nathan! hee hee) are getting restless and we need to think about lunch! I'll try and do a Christmas catch-up post later on once the camera batteries have recharged and I can post some pictures!

Cheers,
Colleen

2 More Sleeps

Well, I can't believe it's only 2 days until Christmas! We had so much fun around here yesterday puttering with Christmas stuff.

My day started by getting to sleep in thankfully since I didn't get home until about 1:30am after work and a little late night shopping the previous night. The morning was relaxing and Nathan had a nap and Kyle and George went and ran a shopping errand. They picked up Subway for lunch on the way home so I didn't even need to do that!

The boys both napped in the afternoon, so I got to finish off a few things and do a couple of crafty things. I did the bows I mentioned in my previous post as well as a CD case I decorated for a gift card. I saw an online tutorial for a little paper tree decoration that I tried as well and will post later. Very easy again and really cute on the tree!

I did most of those things while I was wrapping all my Christmas presents. I often don't wrap them until Christmas Eve after we've had our Chinese food (tradition), but I was determined not to leave it so late! Soooo happy to get it done yesterday!

The other big thing that we did was to finally get our tree up! Here I wanted it up early this year and we only just put it up! Oh well, the good thing is that it's up and we're enjoying it. I think we're going to go for a drive after I get home from work tonight and look at Christmas lights.

Yes, I'm off to go get ready for work here shortly and I'll be there for the day! Not sure how busy it'll be, but we'll see. Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend and some holiday fun! I'm happy George doesn't have to work tomorrow and we can relax - and do a little grocery shopping which might not be fun...

Cheers,
Colleen

So much fun!

OK, I was searching around on some blogs this morning and found Michelle's blog with some of these that she'd done. I checked out the link to SplitCoast with the directions and decided to try one to cover up the top of a funnily shaped present that I wrapped, but that doesn't look so hot because of the shape of it.

I grabbed a piece of the Basic Grey Figgy Pudding that came in my December Scrapperie Glad Tidings kit and off I went! I think that from start to finish it took me about 10 minutes and they're sooo cute! The only thing you need is a piece of double sided paper, a few brads and glue dots and that's about it. The only thing I changed was that I cut the small middle piece to 1.5 inches rather than 1 because I liked the center sort of filled up. I'll be doing more of these!

Let me know if you try them! Would love to see!

Cheers,

Colleen

More Christmas cards!

This is one of those cards that looks so much better in person because the colours are better and you can see the glitter from my new Spica pen on the tree and the greeting! The tree is also popped up, but it's hard to tell in the picture.

Supplies: Patterned paper is all Scenic Route Roxbury. Cardstock is bulk cream. Scalloped circle punch is Marvy Mega. Stamp is Amuse. Red ink is from the Rubber Stampede Victorian Christmas trio and the green is Versa Colour Bamboo.

Well, I worked until midnight last night and then went running around to a couple of stores to get last minute things that I hadn't really planned on having to get, but needed to be done. I've been finished shopping for quite a while now and thought George was going to sort out the things for his/our niece and nephew, but I got them last night! Oh well, it's done though there sure was a line up at Wal-Mart at 1am!!

Woke up to snow this morning! Hadn't expected that since the forecast I saw was only for rain, but George said it's actually raining now already. It all fell after about 2am when I went to bed last night, so I really was surprised when I got up! I'd be happy if it disappeared today though since I'm going to work tomorrow...

We're not planning too much today really and I'm thankful for having the day off. Going to do a few chores, wrap some presents and maybe scrap a little and call it a day! Oh, and believe it or not, we still need to decorate our tree! It's up now (last night), but it's most definitely on our list of things to do today once George and I finish our disagreement about where it's going to go!!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day and enjoying the spirit of Christmas!
Cheers,
Colleen

Santa Claus is Coming to Town...

Picture was taken by Photo Expert.

OK, so this is it! We went Wednesday night finally to get the boys picture taken with Santa! I've been talking about it for weeks, but it was one of those things that seem to have been left.

We had a little wait because we went in the evening, but it wasn't bad. Kyle was actually excited this year and knew what he wanted to tell Santa about what he wanted for Christmas - a Lego Block Digger! Nathan was totally OK with it. NO TEARS at all - from either one! Yeah!

Not too much going on today! I have Sophia for the last day today before the holidays and then I work tonight. Hoping to get some chores and things done around here today, so we'll see how that goes!

Have a fantabulous day...
Cheers,
Colleen

Check out my Slide Show!

Preschool Christmas Party!

Kyle with Jennifer and Sue - his teachers!


This was the big event yesterday with me going to preschool for "class" with Kyle! They had a Christmas party and family members were invited. I would have loved for Nathan to have come too, but with it being naptime, it wasn't a good idea and I certainly couldn't have taken Nathan and Sophia! As a result, George actually took a half day off so he could come home and watch the little ones while I partied with Kyle!

We headed off and everyone waited outside the class until it was time for the party to start. When we went in, there were lots of goodies (everyone was asked to bring something to share) and 3 tables with crafts for the kids. We had fun making a wreath of spray-painted noodles, Kyle iced and decorated a sugar cookie and then we painted and decorated a tree fridge magnet. As that was going on, all the kids got to go and have a little visit with the teachers, Jennifer and Sue, and gave them their gift if they'd brought one. I got them both Tim's gift cards since they're easy and pretty much anyone can find something they like to use them on!

The kids sang some songs and that was about the end of it. It was a fun afternoon and I got to chat with some of the other parents as well! Hard to believe I'm doing preschool parties - how did Kyle get that old in the blink of an eye!?!

Well, think that's about it for now, but I have so many other posts on the brain, I think I'll be back soon! hee hee

Cheers,
Colleen

What Holiday Character Are You?

Click on Buddy to take the quiz and let me know!!
Cheers,
Colleen

Christmas Cards

I finally managed to get some Christmas cards done and posted! I got started on my cards later than usual this year because I after doing the 50 invites for Opi's Birthday party, I didn't much feel like doing more cards. These two are the ones I did for my co-workers. I have a few more that I'll need to post as well that I've only just managed to get done and sent out. I hope they're not late, but if they are, at leat the sentiment was there!

George is coming home at lunch today to look after Nathan and Sophia this afternoon so that I can go to school with Kyle and stay for his Christmas party. Other people are invited, but the little ones need to nap and I'd rather enjoy it with Kyle than dealing with 2 whiny toddlers - not gonna happen!

I'm also hoping to get some presents wrapped tonight. I'm not sure if it'll all get done, but I'd just rather not rush and be doing it all on Christmas Eve after we have our Chinese food - a tradition in our family for as long as I can remember!

I'll post a little update about what's been going on lately since I haven't been very good about blogging lately! Just enjoying the season and not stressing about this which includes being a regular blogger!

Have a wonderful day...
Cheers,
Colleen

Can't help but smile...

when you see these two acting silly the way they do! This poor ball house was a gift for Kyle a couple of years ago and that thing and been through the ringer and is getting a little sad looking since the kids not only play in it, but on it as well. They've decided that it's fun to get one of them in it and then one on the outside to fall on top of the kid in it. Fine when it's Kyle inside, but worrying when it's Nathan!

I did do a layout last night, but it's part of another game of layout tag at Scrapshotz, so I'll have to wait until everyone is finished to post mine!

I'll post more about my wonderful visit with my friends from Australia when I get the pictures uploaded!

Today's 2Peas Blogger Challenge: Describe a childhood Christmas/holiday.
I'll never forget the Christmas that Tracy and I got a 3 story Barbie dollhouse/apartment thing. Our rooms were upstairs and we had to wait up there until mum and dad were ready to go down. Tracy and I were more than ready and when we were told it was OK, we went shooting down the stairs and that Barbie house was the first thing we saw - elevator and all! I was in Barbie heaven! Now I think my dad was glad we liked it because I can only imagine how long it took him to put that thing together!!

Better be off for now since my niece will be here any minute! Have a great day!
Cheers,
Colleen

Amazing 100th Birthday Party and more!

These are a few pictures from the party with the last one being the birthday "boy" of course! It was wonderful to see all of the family and friends that came out to celebrate with him. Everyone was invited to mass first which we went to though it was all in German, so no comprehension, but we were there. Nathan, of course, was all over and George spent half the time in the basement with him since when I'd try to take him, he'd just call for Daddy! Kyle was really good though!

We went over to a hall for lunch and it was a full house for sure. It's German hall, so they did some dishes that Opi really likes like rouladin and Spätzle. Lunch was good and we did a round of Happy Birthday with a big candle and some Black Forest Cake! A wonderful day of celebration!


This is my latest layout and it was done for a challenge where you had to include at least 3 pictures, a white title and the title had to have the word "new" in it!

Supplies: Cardstock is Bazzill. Patterned paper is Scenic Route and Autumn Leaves. Rub-on is Making Memories. Scalloped Chipboard Circle is Creative Imaginations. Title lettering is Making Memories, Heidi Swapp, Doodlebug and American Crafts.

I'm VERY excited about the visitors we're getting tomorrow! My friends from Australia are here and coming over for a play and a visit and I can't wait to see them. I talked to Julie today and can't believe she's actually here already! Seems like we've been talking about it for ages and it seemed like it was so far in the future, but they arrived last night safe and sound!

Well, it's been a busy day around here! I got up with the boys and let George sleep in a little. I was lucky though because the boys didn't wake up until just after 7am and that NEVER happens in our house!! I ran out and did some shopping so that I could finish off the few things I needed to get and I did, so I'm very happy to be able to say that I'm finished! Came home and George went out to do some errands, I put Nathan down for what's turned out to be a long nap (yeah!) and I've been cleaning the house like a madwoman! There's still more to do as well, but I didn't want to be too noisy while Nathan is sleeping.

Since it's been a busy one, we're ordering pizza for dinner and I'm hoping to get the rest of the cleaning done and then maybe a little scrapping/card making or just some vegging in front of the TV!!

Have a great night!
Cheers,
Colleen