OK , so I am LOVING this posting photos thing! So cool! (it IS the little things in life you know!?) So I worked on this layout today...it was a challenge page, again, but got my creative juices flowing to say the least. A little bit of everything on it. The photo is of our very closest freinds, this was taken on our cruise we went on in Sept 2004. Hardly seems like 2 yrs have passed!! Busy day here, lots of kids activities, back to school night, and so on. Sometimes I think we have to stop and remind ourselves to breath.....So ready for Friday to be here, missing my honey all week while he works....quiet around the house w/ kids in school. Got a phone call today that our nephew got his drivers permit, he is the same age as Chris.........scary things!!!Until next time.... be good, be happy and enjoy those "little" things!
OK ......... So I just have to say that I LOVE this lady in green! http://margieromney-aslett.typepad.com/ Margie is THE BOMB and has got to be one of the funnest, happiest, wildest and silliest creatures on earth! I got to meet her at CKU Provo this year as well as 2 years ago and she BEYOND cracked me up every second. I have tried to keep up on reading her blog because she is just a laugh a minute... but SERIOUSLY (oh she loves that word) she is a woman from my own heart. LOVES PINK, and silly words like "Scrapalicous". I have never met anyone with more charisma and charm in my life! Up on stage here with her is good ol' Donna Downey http://donnadowney.typepad.com/ who I also really like a lot. I took 2 of DD's classes at CKU this year and she is SO TOTALLY down to earth, she is so, just, REAL to be around. Donna is a way awesome person and just a good soul.......she believes in making your art about you and your style. Her motto "Perfect: just the way I create" is now plastered on my desk so I can look at it daily. Just love these ladies..... so cool what scrapbooking brings to your life. So much more than paper and adhesive. I could go on and on, but just wanted to put a SHOUT OUT about these neat gals and show you what fun they are! If you are in need of some good laughs go check out those blogs, totally!! OK, back to reality .......... until next time- DarlaDID IT WORK? Did I actually GET A PHOTO on my blog all by myself????????????????
So totally odd, I have been thinking and making lists (this is what I do, make lists) and trying to figure out ways to 'de junk' our lives and our home. Since we moved back in Feb we have been slowly and steadily getting rid of "things" that we no longer need, junk and stuff that is crowding our home, our space and our comfort. It is amazing, as my husband and I were both raised with an almost unhealthy appriciation of "things".....we are finding that what is really importat is WHO is in your life, not WHAT. Now, what is funny about this whole story, is that I was just reading Ali Edwards Blog http://aliedwards.typepad.com/ this morning, she is an amazing scrapbooker/Mom/wife/artist who is wide known in the scrapbook industry. Ali has only one child, but he has special needs so she is more than busy. On top of this her husband is in Politics and is assuredly not sitting around on his butt all day. Ali travels A LOT for her work in the scrapbook industry and she has such awesome insight into Motherhood/Homemaking that makes me just smile. Thank you Ali !!OK so Ali was talking about dejunking, decluttering her home and her life. GOOD STUFF!! I find that I am less stressed when I have less mess and THAT can come by getting rid of excess belongings. During the month of July I had made up a master LIST (remember, my "thing" to do) and had plotted out a plan of going room to room through the house each week and deep cleaning and dejunking. So far, it is now Aug 27th and I have done very little. Grrr me! So, this week I plan to start, and rather than go week to week, since I am at the end of the month, I am going to go day by day! Each day this week I am going to go through and dejunk and deep clean different areas of my home. Granted, we have only been in the house for 7 months, but I do not want to be overcome with "things" again. Keep it simple, keep it clean, keep it stress free. So, if you are looking for some insperation to clean and unclutter your life, go check out Ali's blog........so much insperation there! Until next time, keep your closets clean and stay stress free!! me
LOOK UP! Seriously.......LOOK UP on the top of my Blog page........see that super cool amazing banner? Even better, see that super super cool amazingly amazing photo?? Let me tell you about it!Robin Gibbons.... my friend, my scrapping buddy, my shoulder, my artistic insperation and http://heartfelt.typepad.com/robingibbonsphotography/ my own personal photographer! Serious! This woman is the BOMB and I just wanted to be sure she gets the appropriate SHOUT OUT for her amazing talents!
For a couple of years now Robin has been working with me and my kids to get some great photos taken. I am so lucky to have her as a friend... she is very patient and giving and I think I am one of the most fortunate people in the world to have her so close to me. Robin and I are sort of kindred spirits in a sense... we eeeerily love many many of the same things from foods to colors to hobbies and music, we connect! It is awesome.
So, I just wanted to make sure to get out here and let you know that my COOLIO banner up top and the COOLIO photo up top are ALL ROBIN and her awesome talents! Please go check out her photo site....so many cool things to look at and she is just getting started, I think she is gonna WOW! the world with her skills!!Until next time...... ROCK ON ROBIN!
Routine. How does one define that word? Ha ha! I am trying to get into a routine with the kids in school and so far, nadda! That is ok though, it is only the 3rd day since they started and realistically it will be another week or so I am sure! I just want to get my 'groove' going with things and I feel so chaotic right now. Need to mellow out or I'll end up all flustered for no reason!! (NOTE TO SELF: Chill out Darla!!!) So, kids are liking school so far. Micheal is SO stinkin' cute with his lil' hair slicked back and his backpack on for school. Yesterday he lined up with his class and since we were "lost" he got into the back of the line.....he said "Look Mom, I am the CABOOSE!!" Love it! So cute! Dani is getting used to the faster pace of JHS although she still thinks SHE is personally picked on bc she only has 3 min between classes! RED ALERT DANI: alllll 900+ students have only 3 min between classes! LOL Goofy girl! Chris is Mr High School, loving it all!! Tiff is getting used to 4th grade although I may see some potential teacher/student issues, but I am remaining optimistic for now!!
OK off to get into that "routine" I am insisting upon! Until next time...........
Well, the time has finally arrived. It is 8;40 am and I have 3 or 4 kids shipped of to a new school year. 2 of them to brand new schools and a 3rd will start school for the first time today! I am very content. My sister called bawling HER eyes out after seeing MY oldest son walking to the High School... I loved it! It is not that I am not somewhat emotional about it all... but part of me inside has been waiting for so long to have a little bit of freedom again. I started having babies at such an early point in my life, and prior to that I cared for my sisters kids most of the time, so I have really not been childless since I was a HS student myself. That is a LONG time taking care of kids. (how long? you don't relaly need to know that do you?) So, today is the start of a new "era" for me. Of course, won't be long before I am putting up a journal entry about "empty nest syndrom" either! Ha ha ha!So, what do I intend to do with all my newfound freedom? Clean and organize my home to the "inth" degree... get some quality excersize time in with my slave driver sister (yea, the blubbering crybaby one), and some me time...to scrapbook (of course), window shop, and just do some things I have always wanted to do. Ahhhhh I can already hear the peace and quiet in the house!Things are good. Money is tight. Everyone is healthy. I can't ask for too much more, really. Of course, the more money the more you spend the tighetr it gets so I will just leave that one alone. Until next time........
** FIRST I want to say WHAT A COOL BANNER UP THERE ON TOP OF MY PAGE isn't it?? Thank you Robin!! http://heartfelt.typepad.com/robingibbonsphotography/ **So, since the first time I ever heard this quote, I have tried to make it a way of life for me...FORCED OPTIMISM: Fake It Till' You Make ItWhat a great great quote I think and I just love it! So all the while I have been chanting this in my wee little noggin' I though to myself I should Google this and check out what I find!! Lo and behold, cool stuff! So first I found this site : http://www.thestarlitecafe.com/perl-bin/base/search.cgi which is a rather interesting poetry site... and on this site I found THIS poem FORCED OPTIMISM and dang!! it is cool!! ( Hope it is OK I posted it on here!!)
Forced Optimism
But when it starts to hurt
Just immerse,
And you'll be okay
And if it bleeds, that's fine
You'll heal with time
There is always something left unfound on the horizon.
It shouldn't have to be this way
Life should go on like in those old picture shows
Where there was always someone to save the day.
But I know,
Even though we're allalone in this,
It will be okay.
(Stupid, I know. As is most of what I write.)
By Arrant
Well dude, Mr Arrant, whoever you are....I personally think it is a way cool poem and love it!
And THAT is all SHE wrote. Until next time... behave and behappy!
WHAT I HAVE BEEN UP TO....?OK as the norm, my 'non scrapper warning' to those of you who are not "into" scrapbooking I apologize, you may not get much enjoyment from this blog entry. Sorry. But, if you are interested in seeing pictures of our family, then cool, here you go.
Basically this is just my latest and (sometimes) greatest scrapbooking projects, thought I would share with you. http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/Other than that...not much to tell. Just counting down days to SCHOOL and trying to catch up around the house and the laundry. Need to do some yard work as well but I have had no gumption to do any of it. Send me some MOJO if you have some!Take care and God Bless....
Not that I am counting days, or hours...or slowly ticking seconds of each minute.... but DANG! I wish Friday were here already! I am so ready for school to start already! This whole week is going to go especially S..L...O....W......... I hate it! Last week dragged, I was tired and crabby and this week is going to be worse by a long shot! ack!! I cannot wait for the busy noisy early morning fights for the shower and then the "ahhhhhhhhh" peace and quiet as they all shuffle out the door! YES! And afternoons all to ME ME ME myself! Will be so nice!! I keep promising myself I WILL NOT get hooked on Guiding Light all over again (it has been years) and Oprah and all those shows...nope, I will be productive, and active, and creative. I WILL BE SUPER MOMMY!!! (hee hee)
Monday :(almost done!)TuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday Saturday: FUN DAYSunday: Final countdown........MONDAY : BACK TO SCHOOL BABY!!!!!!!
Feeling blue today. Dissapointed. Frustrated. Feel like giving up. However, I am not a quitter and although today I want to cry and run away, I won't. I know sometimes things must go in a 'backwards' sort of order, but right now, I dont' want to play that game. I want to be the first one chosen for the team. I want to be on top of the mountain, not in the middle. I want to be the gold, not the silver, or bronze. Selfish. Yes. Realistic. No. Feeling better by moping and boobing over it, for the moment, yes, it does make me feel better. Tommorrow I will be fine. Tommorrow I will look forward, and make a new plan. Today, I will be blue... and that is OK."Giving up doesn't always mean you are weak; sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let go. ~Author Unknown"Darla
BACK TO SCHOOL IS A FABULOUS THING! 12 Days and counting...OK OK I guess this makes me a bad Mom, but I am SO ready for summer "break?" to be over! I am ready for the kids to go back to school, for my daytimes to quiet down a bit and for routine to come back. This year will be a landmark in my parenting 'career' as I will have ALL FOUR KIDS in school for at least part of the day! BIG year for our family, one going into High School, one to Jr High School and one starting Kindergarden (plus our 4th Grader too)!! I will have a grande time each afternoon as my "baby" boy is off to afternoon class for almost 3 full hours each day! Wheeeeeeeeeeee!! I love being a Mom and being home when my kiddos are little and growing and learning, and although it is a bit of a heart breaker to let them go off all on their own in this big wide world, I also see myself in a new "era" of my life.... curious what changes will come from this. In the time being, I will do a little "party dance" all to myself for a bit of Mom time each afternoon!! Wheeeeeeee!!I love you my kids! You make me smile, make me happy, make me proud to be your MOM!!XOXO
OK Sorry to all my 'non' scrappy friends and family and anyone else who does not understand 'scrap-eze' but I am just in a scrappy mood and I am going to talk scrap!So, I am ALL about the new Daisy D stuff that is out, the cool Gypsy Harvest things, awesome autumn colors, antiqued looking and just plain cool! DD has really gotten out of the rut this past year and made some amazinly awesomely awesome new paper lines! LOVE IT!!!Oh and can we say I LOVE MM ?! This co never ceases to amaze me and what do you know?? They are coming out with GIANT WALL MONOGRAM LETTERS that are self sticking and OH SO COOL! Love that whole concept, SO COOL!!!! I am still oogling over the BoHo Chic stuff I got at CKU and totally hoarding every little peice of ribbon and paper from them....so awesome!I am also really getting "happy vibes" from Heidi Swapp. I never really thought that her stuff was all that amazing, alas, I am finding that I am using every little thing in my scrap stash from her! LOVING the big flowers, the chipboard alphabets (which are easily altered) and all the ghost letters and shapes. Even her super glittery lip gloss is AWESOME! Go HS!!Good ol' Basic Grey is at it again too... all thier new papers are emerging and as always they are just to DIE for! Cool colors, deep and dreamy designs and things that just drawwwww you across the room just to drool over them! The new Cosmo Cricket looks to be a BG Wannabe but some awesome looking stuff nevertheless!!! Can't wait to get my grubby fingers on some of that paper!BoBunny Press is doing the same thing as Daisy D's..... causing me to go broke! THEY have also come out with some of the cutest stuff ever this past year and are really making a comeback. So many fun prints and colors.....loving all teh YELLOW I am seeing in their lines right now! YEAH!Other fun things I am seeing.... BIG BUTTONS with COOL PRINTS at WalMart fabric dept, three cool buttons for less than $2 bucks....way cool! LOVING the new and fun ribbons I am seeing around at fabric and craft stores and lss. I still am a sucker for fibers, they just scream texture and design to me. Twill too.... plain, colored, printed, all of that, so fun, so functional. Ric Rak and elastics........FUN to play with. Old but good!! FABRIC is opening up a whole new world in scrapping...and I have TONS of it! I knew there was a reason I have dutifully saved every teeny tiny scrap of 2x2 inch fabric I ever had. Denim, cottons, plaid, floral, flannel, seersucker, ALL OF IT is just fun and amazing to use...more design potential and more doors opened up in the world of scrapolicious living!I guess I could go on all day.... REALLY, I COULD! but I will stop. Just loving my hobby, my obsession and love to talk about things that make me so happy. HAPPY HAPPY ME!Hope YOU are feeling happy too!Darla
Last night my hubby was showing me a website called 43Things http://www.43things.com/ and it is OH SO COOL. I love the thought of hooking up with people with the same goals and ambitions and dreams. There is sure some crazy stuff on there too, but overall, just average Joe's who have big ambitions in life, just like me! Check it out, very cool.I want to be 5 again. http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/?action=view¤t=MICHEALAT51.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch2 Doing a scrapbook page about my son Micheal... he is 5, he is carefree, he is amazingly silly and smart and funny. He keeps us all laughing day in and out. He is like a cat, sleeps when he wants/needs to, eats when he wants/needs to and plays the rest of the day. That is his 'job'... love that. I want to be 5 again. Ready for school to start. I have had a nice summer, the kids have been pretty good, no major bologna pulled and overall enjoyable. We have had swim camp, trip to cousins, visit to friends family reunion, sleepovers, swimming, camping, hiking, Yellowstone, fishing, sprinklers, and so on.......I am ready for backpacks, homework, afterschool snacks and reasonable bedtimes. Are the kids? Uhhh that remains to be seen. DH has been sick. Poor guy. An illness whose symptoms flare up at wierd times... hope to get it under control. Had a long night with him last night and hope we can get him some relief soon. Sucks to be sick. Scrapping. Feeling inspired these days. Doing lots of pages and projects and just having fun exploring and creating. Enjoying the goodies I have and putting them to use. Finding lots of ideas and inspiration from fellow scrappers, magazines, blogs and more. Love this hobby. Love this art. Sick of chicken and hamburger. LOL Yes, it is true. I know my family too well to change up the menu too much, but I'd love to try some new fun funky recipes and meals and maybe throw out the frozen chicken breasts and hamburger for a few weeks.
Off to fold laundry... ahhhh womanhood. LOL Darla
