Mini Scrapbook Workshop (spring)

Saturday night I hosted a mini scrapbook workshop.
I absolutely love putting these together.
So fun.
I think what makes the workshop so great is that everyone leaves with a finished scrapbook.

(note: This is my new chalkboard in our dining room. Oh, happiness)

The kits are prepared and ready for assembly beforehand making the process that much easier for people who don't scrapbook regularly. You can have no crafting experience at all and still leave with a handmade mini book that you'll love.
Helping others tap into their creative side make me happy!

Kits ready to be put together.

These ladies are awesome! I loved seeing how creative everyone was with their scrapbooks.
Little books of art!

Of course, we needed something yummy to eat so we would have energy to scrapbook. lol
Our meal.......chicken alfredo or stuffed shells, salad, bread, and a slice of cheesecake.

Best cheesecake recipe! I found it over at Whatever, it's Pam's Cheesecake. So good!

My finished scrapbook.

I'm already looking forward to planning the next one. November is going to be here soon!

Happy Memorial Day! Enjoy your time with family and friends!

Overwhelmed by blessings

Almost half way through two thousand twelve and I could not have predicted our year would have taken so many turns.
Personal growth, reflection, desire for changes.
Friends lost, friends gained.
Plans in the making that have me giddy with excitement. (will have to wait a while before sharing)
But the most incredible thing has to be how overwhelmed with blessings I have felt all year.
In the midst of tears from painful personal growth, I've tried to stay true to my beliefs that having a grateful heart matters all the more when walking through something difficult. Not letting that despair pull you under, but rising above it because in the end the growth from it all is more valuable than if you had stayed the same. This doesn't make any of it easier but knowing that my heart is where it's supposed to be helps.
I say all of this to get to my point that I feel that being grateful for what you have can seriously pay sometimes.
I also need to say that my husband is truly the most sincere husband ever. His friends tell me every time I meet them that he never has anything but good things to say about me.
Me, his wife.
I know he loves me and he's told me before how much he talks about me but to hear it from his friends feels like one of the most chivalrous everyday things a husband can do for his wife. Seriously, husbands who read this post (if any), try it, you won't likely regret it.

So, back to the blessings part. A friend of my husband's from work is into photography and David has mentioned in the past how I am as well. Yesterday, they met up for lunch on their work break and his friend gave him an older camera to give to me. He didn't want anything for it, he had just purchased an upgrade and wanted to give his old one to me.
I've never even met this person. That say alot about my husband and how he's praised my name.
When David brought it home after work and told me the story about it, I was blown away by how incredible things happen when you least expect them.

I own a Canon power shot SX20 IS. It's an incredible camera and I love it but it's not a DSLR.
But I've been trying to be patient and content, knowing that I'm blessed to have a great camera and I'll upgrade later. So, being given something like this feels like an overwhelming blessing.
I truly believe that having a grateful heart pays in more ways than one and having a husband who praises your name gratifies the soul.

My heart is full of happy!

sin·cere/sinˈsi(ə)r/

Adjective:

Free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from genuine feelings. (of a person) Saying what they genuinely feel or believe; not dishonest or hypocritical.

a little bit of swag

Still trying to get back in the swing of things and putting new product in the shop but thought I'd share a few photos with you of some swag. A sneak peek of a few of the new products coming soon!


These items were donated for a giveaway at our mom's group Mother's Day brunch. They had so much swag to giveaway is was amazing!

I didn't tell the mom who won my gift basket this but before the event I kept thinking "she" was going to win it. I'm not sure why I thought that but it was almost like, "why, of course". It just seemed like a no brainer. And she did win this gift basket. How cool is that?!

Anyway, I'll be back soon!

random photos

Recently, I have been working on product for my Etsy shop, which has kept me pretty busy.
Read, all my spare time is being spent creating and not blogging.
Don't get me wrong, I love being this busy with my handmade business and orders from friends. Feeling blessed beyond what I ever thought was possible. Thank you to all who support me and my venture into handmade, whether it's through purchases or encouragement. My heart is full! Thank you!
I want to blog more and I have so much I want to share but time will only allow for some much.

So, for now I'll just share a few random photos, little snippets of our lives.
Thanks for looking!

work boots

"camping"

sharky and bones

wall "art"

savoring the weather

so many

workshop

I'll be back soon!

Moms are awesome!

Yesterday, our mom's group celebrated Mother's Day early with a brunch.
It just so happened that I ended up catering the appetizers and desserts.
You know, because you can't have a party without yummy food! That would just be crazy!
It's was so much fun putting everything together.

I want to give a shout out to my friend, Charlene. She was a huge help in getting everything loaded and set up. I could not have done it without her. Thanks, Charlene!

I used The Pioneer Woman's recipe for bowtie pasta salad. It's definitely my new favorite.

Before I knew I was catering all the food, I volunteered to set up a craft table with card kits.

I loved creating these and encouraging others be creative.

A few weeks ago I saw a pin on pinterest that led me to another blog with a tutorial on how to hand dye your own coffee filter roses.

OMG!

They were so easy to make. Now, I made about 4 or 5 dozen which was a lot, but just making a few is ridiculously easy.

Thanks for putting up with me and all my photos!

What do you do to celebrate your mom or yourself and all that you are?

If you have any questions about recipes, comment below.

Playing catch up.

Well, I guess I decided to take a break from blogging without realizing it. I didn't notice how long it had been until this morning.

So, I'm going to do a little catching up here. This is just a warning for a heavy photo filled post. lol

Easter week:

Playdate with friends, we had some yummy snacks and an Easter egg hunt. :)

B and F did a sticker/coloring activity while we (I) talked about the cross and what Jesus did for us.

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Easter Sunday

Breakfast

The Easter bunny brought the boys these sweet little hopping chicks. They were a BIG hit!

No roast and potatoes here this year, tacos with homemade tortillas instead. Recipe for tortillas found at the Homesick Texan.
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A little fun at Target's dollar section. He wanted to put them on himself. Love.

These ended up coming home with us because right after this pic, he broke the headband. So glad they were only a dollar and ended up being 1/2 off too.

A sight that always makes me happy. *insert blissful sigh*

Watching YouTube videos. This is one of our favorites.

http://youtu.be/Hyt-D8aTf90

Tried a new recipe. Scrumptious. This is where I found the recipe.

I've been very busy lately. Sewing, creating new products for my Etsy shop, catering food, preparing for a Mother's Day event, scrapbooking baby's first year books. I love staying this busy.

Don't get me wrong, I love my down time too but creating like this is awesome to me. Sometimes it's a hurdle to get over creative blocks at times but once I make it through those, I feel more confident in what I'm doing.

LOVE IT!

Hope you all have a great weekend! 

Weekend to Weekend

My in-laws were here for a couple days last weekend. We had a great time and enjoyed having them here.

Saturday evening we walked around Cabela's. Our store has a walk through aquarium and a wild animal display. My twins loved the aquarium but their favorite part was riding the escalators up and down. Hey, it's free and it makes them happy!

Family photo. Yep, this pretty normal. Wiggly boys!

Sometimes, (okay, most times) it's hard to get a great family photo. My mother-in-law looks great though.

The weather was wonderful. The kind that could be too warm but with the breeze it makes it perfect. Like getting a sun kissed tan on your face and arms.

Playtime at the park was a necessity with this kind of weather.

Brett can climb this rock wall all by himself.

Yeah, he's growing up way too fast.

It was really warm outside if you were running/climbing/sliding like these two were.

Look at those rosy cheeks!



We had lunch outside at Red Zeppelin. It was perfect! I love eating there outside on the deck.

David and I were able to go out by ourselves while Gramma and Papa watched the boys.
Texas Roadhouse won.
It was yummy!
David had a steak and I had the catfish.

After dinner we walked around Walgreen's. We really know how to party. lol
I don't care where we go, I just love being able to spent time with my HOT husband all by myself.

And that was our weekend. David went back to work Monday morning and Gramma and Papa went home.
We had so much fun though!

Oh, I made the blueberry breakfast cake from the last post. It was delicious. Definitely a keeper.

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Yesterday, we took the boys swimming for the first time this year.
They have been ready for weeks. Bringing me their swimming shorts over and over.

My arms and hands are otherwise busy once we're in the pool so, the only photos I have are right before.

This morning they brought out their water shoes with big smiles on their faces.

Looks like we'll need to go back to the pool very soon!

Hope your weekend was great!