She's baaaaaaack!!

I'm checking in her to let you know that no, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I just needed to step back and get some major stuff done at home and you know how it is with renovations- one thing leads to another until you've spent twice as much time and 3 times as much money as you intended.

Rather than writing a novel, I'll just give you an overview of my crazy spring:

~Decided the dilapitated porch really had to come off our house once and for all, and it's gone- Yaaaay!!!

~Despite zero experience, DH & I decided to put a new roof on the house ourselves. We start with the garage roof for practise, and for some insane reason, decided to go ahead with the house even though I discovered a fear of heights even on the 1 storey garage.

~Spent the first 2 days of DH's vacation at Great Wolf Lodge. It was Awesome! The water park was amazing and we all had a fabulous time.

~Spent the next week cursing our decision to do the house ourselves, cursing the rain, cursing the ladders, the 4 layers of shingles, the splinters, the dirt, dust and mess... a whole lot of cursing (disclaimer: for those who know me; you're right, I don't swear, but I sure wanted to. If ever in my life I had anything curse~worthy, this was it!) IT IS SO WORTH PAYING SOMEONE TO DO YOUR ROOF!!!

~Spent the next week doing nothing to recover from the roofing ordeal.

~Ordered a new wall oven and started painting the cabinets. Were told the oven would be in 2 days later. 3 weeks and much hassle later we finally got the oven.

~Put new siding on the garage. THIS is something you can do yourself. So easy it's laughable. Of course I didn't have to get up on a ladder to do it.

After 2 months of renovations I was afraid I'd never get my scrapping mojo back, but decided to enter Paper Crafts' Gallery Idol, and it sucked me right back into the magical world of paper and glue.

One last thing, as a proud momma I must brag a bit about Evan. He graduated from Elementary school today, and recieved the award for Highest Overall Academics. It feels good to see that all my mommy~nagging over the years has done some good.

Have a Fabulous Day!

Happy Birthday to me!!

So yeah, it's my Birthday today. It's crazy how when you're a kid your Birthday is a huge and momentous event, counted down for the full 12 months (remember telling people you were 9 & 1/2, or 11 & 3/4?? LOL!) And as you get older you cling to each year like a lifeline, or even subtract a few. I'm 33 today, and I'm okay with it. I bought myself a mini caramel praline cheesecake (we'll have a real cake tomorrow when DH isn't working, and I'm spending the day tomorrow at Scrapfest in Kitchener. And as a pleasant surprise, I got a card picked up by Paper Crafts Magazine today!! Off to bed, tomorrow will be a long and busy day, can't wait!!

Spring is in the air!

It seems here in southern Ontario that winter just won't go away, sort of like an annoying houseguest that has taken up residence on your couch, but it looks like the sunshine is finally kicking winter to the curb. If I wasn't so thrilled to see my front lawn *almost* snow free I might complain about the water seeping into my basement from all the rain and snow-melt, but I won't (much). I've been making lots of cards lately, and spending to much on all the luscious neww goodies starting to come in from CHA. Here are a few of my most recent creations.
Happy spring and have a fabulous day!

Back to the grind.

Today was the first day back after spring break, and I have to say I wasn't any more thrilled than the kids. I really enjoyed our week together (okay, I really enjoyed sleeping in every.single.day.) but I suppose it's nice to get back on a schedule. I went shopping for DS's birthday present, he turns 5 tomorrow. I'd be excited if I wasn't so sad that my last baby is all grown up. I just have to remember that growing up brings good things too.
Here's my latest card, I love the flowers, they're so cheerful and happy. Amazing what you can find at the Dollar store! (the flowers and brads are both from Dollarama)

How Sweet It Is.

You'd think it would get old, or at least less thrilling over time, but nope, seeing my work in print, or online pubs still gives me a thrill. The March Basic Grey newsletter came out yesterday, and It was so cool to see my layout as the Eye Spy feature layout.
So cool.

(If you haven't seen the newsletter yet you can check it out here)

This is what life is all about.

Have you ever had a perfect day? One of those days when you look back and say "now that's what life is supposed to be like". Today was one of those days-or as close as it gets without a million bucks anyways.
We took the kids to Niagara Falls for the day and had a really great time. This is the first time that I can remember EVER not having at least one of the kids asking if we could go home yet. In fact, they all kept asking if we could stay a little longer! We went tho Frankenstein's Haunted House, looked around at a bunch of the sights, stopped for hot chocolate and donuts, went to the Midway, went on a cool ghost ride, went for a walk to the falls, checked out the Hershey's factory, Hard Rock Cafe, and a bunch of gift shops etc (there is so much cool stuff there to see), and those who weren't chicken went on the sky wheel- an incredibly huge ferris wheel. We went out for dinner (Pizza Hut) and stoped to climb a 2 storey snowbank just for the heck of it before heading home. Now they're downstairs watching a movie while I do a few things on the computer.
And the best part? The first day in months (okay, maybe years) that there was NO bickering and name calling between them. And that just makes me happy.

More Cards!

I'm on a roll this week! (Maybe it's because of my need to escape the insanity of having all th kids home for spring break) I finished 2 more cards and have another started. Love the little dresses on hangers!
I took the kids tobogganing today too and we all had a blast. And of course they're much more mellow after some exercise and fresh air, I just hope it lasts! Well, off to throw some supper in the oven- Chicken and scalloped potatoes, YUM!

I've found my mojo!!

I have taken a bit of a break from scrapbooking over the past couple of months, and was having a really hard time getting my creative "mojo" back. But after a couple sheets of new paper, some gorgeous paper lace from Doodlebug and Around The Block, (I couldn't decide which I liked better so I bought both!) and a trip through some online galleries, I'm back in the game! I have a bunch of ideas I'm working on but here is a card I finished today. I love the scalloped frame stamp, I can't believe it has sat on my shelf unused for a couple of years before I re-discovered it!
I got a call from my Mom today too. She told me they're building a house in Nova Scotia (I won't even open that can of worms except to say I think they now legally qualify as nomads).She wants me to come and visit at the end of the month and bring Brianna with me!! (and she's buying the tickets so I'm pretty sure I can swing it as long as DH can sort out things at work!) Yeeehaaaw! And boy do I need a vacation, with 3 almost teens and a 5 year old who has been sick all week and seems to burst into tears at least twice an hour I am soooo looking forward to some time to just hang out with my sisters. In fact I may actually go pick up the pink "bad*** girls poker" game I saw today, 'cause it's tradition now ya'know.

Happy Valentines Day!!

So this year I actually got around to doing something fun for my kids for Valentines day. Not that we got anything besides what we scored at our school Valentines exchange when we were kids, but I always have these Martha inspired aspirations for every possible holiday, then don't get around to doing them. But I stopped at the bulk barn yesterday and picked up some valentines candy (my fave is the Valentine candy corn-SO cute!!) Lucky me they had already marked it all down to half price, so I guess sometimes it does pay to wait until the last minute! I filled these cute tin buckets with candy and fun stuff for them to find at breakfast. Here is DH's card too, it was in the January '08 Issue of Cards magazine. We're going out on Saturday since he has to work tonight.

I am also posting some peeks of my scraproom renovation in progress. I LOVE this black and white fabric! The armoire will be painted black (it is a very dark blue stain right now), and the dresser that the black drawers are sitting on will get a fresh coat of white paint. Now I just need to print and frame some of our family photos, and sort through the rest of my embellishments and stuff.

But first, I'm going to take a nap. This sinus infection/ flu virus is just draining me, I just can't seem to get rid of it. It's a great excuse to lay around all day, and at least I have Survivor to look forward to tonight!

Where does the time go??

Wow, it has been a while! I've been concentrating my creative efforts on a scrap room move and makeover. I was leaning towards a shabby chic/french candy shop feel inspired by some cute vintage stuff on one of my fave inspiration blogs, then I found a piece of black and white fabric that I fell in love with, and that took things in a bit of a new direction though it works perfectly.
I'll post some peeks tomorrow, but it's not done yet.

I've been working on planning DS's 11th Birthday party (tomorrow). He asked for an electric guitar for his bithday, (which DH was more than happy to get him, since HE has been wanting a new one)) so the rock star theme was fitting. Here are the invitations. I'm off to find stuff to fill the treat bags, then I have to make a guitar cake tonight. Then it's a matter of entertaining 6 11 year old boys for 3 hours.