July 365 2014

As far as I can tell, July flew by fast! The summer already seems over even though August starts tomorrow. 

It just goes too quick. 

I like having my kids home. 

I like the slower paced days. 

I like warm weather and lately some days seem too cool for summertime. 

Feels like Fall is steadily approaching, and I don't like it.

Puppy Number 4!

After all the years of saying no to getting a dog, I never imagined myself with one let alone FOUR, but we did just that. Two weeks ago we brought home Rosie to see how she fit in with our crazy family, and last night, made her officially ours.

I was very hesitant to bond with her, not wanting another puppy, to be honest. Joe was the reason I was playing along. I can't say no to him. If it makes him happy then I'm all for it. 

She has the same father as the other three puppies and actually is a full sister to Piper, sharing the same mother as well. She's just as sweet as Piper too. She loves to her her belly rubbed. 

We couldn't come up with a name for her that we all agreed on either. We originally wanted to call her Claire, but it didn't suit her. Marissa started calling her "no name", until I put a stop to that! Not sure who came up with Rosie (maybe one of my sisters??), but I wasn't sure, being that my first name is Rosaria and my sisters call me Ro. In the end we all liked it and she learned her name very quick. 

I finally did bond with her, how could I not?  She makes me laugh with her head tilt when I talk to her, and she's a love. 

The Great Purge of 2014

Since getting back from vacation, I've been trying to catch up on things around the house. The theme is mainly "PURGING". I've been going through things all year long but I've been in high gear lately.

First off, papers. Old receipts from 2010? Tossed. Credit card statements going back to 2004? Shredded. It's ridiculous!! I've made a dent but still have a way to go. 

It's freeing to just toss something. Crazy as it sounds, it makes me happy seeing the garbage can fill up. 

Purge purge PURGE!! 

I'm hoping to get it more under control so I won't have to dedicate so much time to it. Eventually take just one day a week to work on it. Baby steps. 

Might mix things up today and go through my closet too. I'm finding some clothes to be too loose on me (YAY) and refuse to hang onto them. The battle of the bulge has been going in the right direction and I'm a happy girl. 

The outcome of this might get my scrappy mojo moving again. I think the pressure of so much to do around here has the creative side blocked off. I have barely stepped foot in my scrap room this week. 

So the Great Purge of 2014 must continue! 

Perler Beads Weekend

After hearing the girls ask for Perler Beads one day, I made sure to find them on my next visit to Michaels. The girls were excited and happily sorted out all the colors, because that's how we roll. (I admit to being a little OCD). It took a while but it was so nice and quiet while they sorted that I contemplated buying another huge bucket to sort!! LOL! 

We looked up and pinned loads of ideas on Pinterest to try. They even free handed some designs. Then they asked what I would like and made me these....

Marissa made me the flower and purple coffee mug, and Gianna made me my favorite Lady & a sign proclaiming that I am the number 1 mom around here. 

Treasures I'll keep forever! 

Gianna's 10th Birthday Family Style

With Gianna's actual birthday spent at Disney World, we didn't get a chance to celebrate her birthday with family until today.  She didn't mind, it just extended her day!  

I have to admit that without the girls helping out a lot around the house, helping me clean and helping with the puppies I wouldn't have been able to pull this off.  I got a cold while at Disney that felt worse after coming home.  Shortly after starting to feel better from that, I had some sort of 24 bug that knocked me out.  My girls really stepped up and made me proud!

Here's the birthday girl, happy to be the center of attention.

Her requested mustache cake.

Wish big, my sweet girl.

It's completely official now, she is TEN.

Project Life 2014 Week: 3

Back with week 3 of Project Life.  

January always seems like a great time for beginnings.  A new years worth of contacts, my first fox sighting, organizing and pizza nights becoming a regular thing.

Around this time I was trying to re-focus on sharing more on the much neglected blog.  I would start up many posts on my iphone while waiting for the girls at pick up time from school, but hesitated to post from my phone knowing I wanted to tweek it or spellcheck before sharing.  Though when I got home the last thing I wanted to do was sit in front of the computer.  **sigh**  It was a no win situation that needed to be addressed. 

Another item that needs to be addressed is my scrap stash.  It's time to purge some supplies.  I've come to a point where I have to seriously curb my buying.  There I said it (again).  I will of course buy the nessescities like adhesive and my favorite releases from Bella Blvd, but no more without using it up.   I need to "scrap the stash".....I just have to come up with a plan!

Currently I'm working on March, and I must admit to wishing I had not accumulated so many PL items.  I'm feeling forced to do this project until I use my stash....which could be a few years!!  I miss scrapbooking 12x12.  I know I've whined about it before and I know I could put a page together here and there, but knowing how far behind I already am on PL prohibits me.  I'm OCD about it.  I don't want to get further behind but I'm also feeling like my hobby is being forced.  

When I feel forced to do something I dig my heels in and we get nowhere.  **sigh**  I need to be faster with my pages but I want to remember WHY I took a picture of my contacts, or WHY I took a picture of shoes...journaling the reason behind the picture is important to me.  Sometimes it can be a few word explanation and other times the story needs room to be told.  I want future generations to understand WHY. 

Project Life 2014 Week 1

After so long, I finally get to share my Project Life pages for 2014!! Seems like it took forever....or six months! ;)  I somehow skipped posting this spread before posting week 2...I blame vacation brain. ;)

After the holidays, we're all so burnt out and we don't do anything. I need time to reboot and clear my head from all the craziness, plus we're tired! 

For something so simple, this makes me happy. I added some stickles to the wood veneer I got from Two Peas and that's it! I like sparkles. 

Currently, I'm working on March. Was hoping to be caught up before our trip but life had other ideas. Eventually I'll get caught up again.  I may even do the cover page to the album before the year is over, but I'm not promising!!  LOL!

4th of July aka Benigno Family Reunion 2014

Our fourth was spent with my side of the family at my sister's house.  It was a chilly 4th but that didn't stop some of the kids to jump into the pool.

Gianna was probably one of the last kids in the pool.  She's turned into a fish lately.

Food, catching up and chilling out were on the agenda.  It was good to see some of the cousins that don't live close.  Thanks to my aunt, she got us all together for a group shot.  

This bunch of knuckleheads warming up after calling it quits on the pool.

Aunt, cousins, sisters (I'm in red). It was a fun day, full of love.

Good News For The Scrapbook World

When I heard the news about Two Peas closing unexpectedly I was naturally sad to hear about it. Losing a great place to shop, to find inspiration and to connect with people that have the same interests as I do.

Deep down I also selfishly worried about losing my gallery. Over the years I've shared over 500 (?) projects. A good portion of that was before I started blogging so I didn't have them saved anywhere else. 

A few days after the Two Peas announcement, I saw this post on Instagram, (I get a lot of my news on there!!) 

It sounded easy enough but technology is not my friend, so I was skeptical. I kept hearing how easy it was, so I made some time to figure it out. Let me just say, Scrapbook.com made it easy peasy! It's virtually effortless! All it took was my peanut number and about a half hour to transfer everything. I had started a gallery there years ago but didn't want to have to keep up two galleries, especially after starting the blog. 

Yay for technology! (did I really say that??) LOL!

Riley Turns 1!

One year ago today, Riley was born! When she was born, we weren't looking for a dog, we were just coming to terms that it was time to give in to one of the girls' dreams of having a dog.  We had no idea of her existence until September, but now we couldn't love her more!

Not the best birthday picture, but it was a rainy day out so we'll have to try tomorrow. She has the most expressive eyes and we have a close bond. I just love this puppy!