September 365

I swear it felt like September was over in a blink of an eye.

So much to do, so little time.  Things went back to normal in September.  We're back on schedules (which is a good thing).  We're back into activities (which can get very hectic).  Lots going on, and it made the month speed by.

The Day My Life Changed

Fifteen years ago today, Joe & I flew to Orlando for a Disney vacation. 

I will never forget that trip. 

It was the day my life was forever changed.

Joe asked those magical words "Will you marry me?".... and I said "YES!"

We don't celebrate the day with gifts, just love. 
He is my love.

It's a Wonderful World!

I never would have thought I'd meet such AMAZING people through an app. If anyone had told me way back when I got my iphone, I would have told them they were delusional.

I've been using Instagram for awhile. I might have mentioned it once or twice.... Started out following a few people and slowly getting more and more followers with the same interests as me.

These people have been MOTIVATING me to work on my Project Life album.
They have been INSPIRING me with their albums.
They've even been the SPARK I need to workout somedays! (I might need a lot more spark.  Hey, it's not perfect!)

LOTS of love and inspiration. I LOVE it. To say I have an addiction may be an understatement.   Currently I have 1,754 pics on my account.  Like I said, addicted.

Some of these people have enabled me in so many ways. My obsession  love for owls has been intensified through IG (if that's even possible!). My constant stalking of TJ Maxx, Marshall's, and Home Goods has been made worse through IG.

I've become pen pals with Ilissa from Hawaii. How exciting is that?? Not only does she have beautiful handwriting, but she sends me CHOCOLATE!  She completes me.

My girl Christina, hooked me up with this American Crafts roller stamp from Hobby lobby since I don't have one near me. She also enables my love for owls.  We are kindred spirits. 

Fabulous scrapper, Joscie, also in Hawaii, sent me this FANTASTIC mug to add to my collection of mugs, after I posted a pic of my obscene amount of mugs.  I think it might be my new favorite mug!

At a time when I just want to crawl in a hole and become a hermit, I am reminded that there ARE STILL  people in the world that are WONDERFUL.  And I have Instagram to THANK for that!

12 on 12 September

September 12 on 12?  Already?  Seriously??  I can't get over how fast the year is going. 

The mornings start with dropping Gianna off at school.  This year it's just her and I in the drop off lane.  Marissa goes to school earlier & Joe drops her off.  I like the earlier time only for the fact that after Marissa leaves for school, Gianna & I have some quiet time together.  No more leaving the house in a mad panic to get to school on time.  We are READY!

 

This might not look it but I spent some un-planned time cleaning/organizing the pantry this morning.  I like the progress I made.

Time for a mid morning treat before I get super hungry& get the shakes.  I know it's not the healthiest, but I felt like I earned it this morning.

I haven't seen this much of the dining room table since Christmas.  This is the least used room in the house, unless you count using it as a dumping ground.  I can't stand this room. Blah.

 Suck it up, buttercup.  I like a nice, freshly vacuumed floor.

The day flew, and now it's time to pick up Gianna from school.  Today it's her turn to get picked up first.  

We're meeting Marissa at the public library today, she walked over after school.

 

Can't leave the library without a handful of good books!  Gianna is a huge fan of Dan Gutman & loves reading his books.

Reading time consists of 2 big pillows & a towel to keep her warm.  This is after a failed attempt at reading outside laying on the grass--too buggy she said.  Only my kid.

Going leopard print for Back to School night at Marissa's school.

Chet is the girls' favorite babysitter...she lets them get away with murder!!

Middle school back to school night.  We get to follow Marissa's schedule and meet all her teachers.  Sounds fun!



Project Life June 2012

June has been quite a busy month around here!  So much fun stuff going on that I "needed" to fit in my album. (believe me when I say the album is pretty full--think I need to start another)

I started the first week of June with a two-page spread, instead of my normal one page.  By doing that I squeezed some extra pics for a few days instead of doing an insert.  I like how it came out, even though the days don't "flow" perfectly.  I used the same background for those pics to show that they belonged together.

I got all creative this week with m Silhouette Cameo.  Nothing fancy, just simple & easy. 

The monthly 12 on 12 insert...

 

I arranged the words/title using the Arial Black font (again) & sized them differently, then used my Cameo to cut it out.  To make it pop, I backed the cut outs using a different colored cardstock (Blue & Gold are the school colors).

A little close up....I really love how it came out.

Of course there were a lot of pics for Marissa's 5th grade party so there was a full insert of pics from the day.  Inserts are starting to take over my Project Life album!  I both love them & hate them.  Love how they look, yet hate how FULL they make the album.  I also tend to procrastinate about doing them since I tend to go overboard with all the "extras" to make them pretty.  They take more time to do, but at the same time I like that it uses up my old stash of supplies. Can't win.

Marissa's "ceremony", is when I started losing steam, can you tell? I took one of THESE page protectors & sliced off the part I wouldn't use, very simple.  Except for the title pocket, I just slid the pics in & called it done.  Of course, that last empty pocket is bothering me, so I'm sure at some point I'll add something.

This page happened pretty quickly.  I kept a few days very simple, both because I was losing my mojo & because I was just trying to get it done.

The last day of school had to have an insert as well, since it was Marissa's last day at this school.  Bittersweet moment....

This month really was full of inserts!!  The end of school often brings Gianna's birthday as well, which is obviously a pic filled day. 

I know I've mentioned it before, but I love digging through my stash of supplies to find the "perfect" embellie for a page.  Makes me even happier when it's something that I've been hoarding.  Another thing I find myself doing a lot more of is stamping.  I don't consider myself a stamper, but it doesn't stop me from buying them. ;) The small pockets make it easier for me, somehow, to use my stamps.  I find it harder to stamp on a 12x12 LO, but I hope to change that.

The last week of June seems to be a more quiet week, but it wasn't really.  There was a lot of running around PLUS Gianna's birthday party with her friends at the movies to see "Brave".  The sad part is I didn't take a single pic at her party.  Not a one.  On our way home, when I realized it, I cried.  Hard.  What kind of mother forgets to take pics at her daughter's birthday party with her friends??  Gianna, knowing how upset I was, told me it was OK & said I could just take pics of her at home while she opened her presents.  I made do, since I had no other choice & know in my heart, she had a great party.  She was still happy.  Pictures or no pictures.  Love her. Always.

That was June!  I know I'm behind on the album, but as of last night, I finished my July pages!  I somehow blew through them & now I have HOPE that I WILL get through August just as quickly.  I would love to be able to do PL on a weekly basis, so I can squeeze in some 12x12 LO's or other projects that have been brewing in my mind as well.  Crossing my fingers!

First Day of School 2012

Today was the first day of school for the girls.

Marissa started 6th grade in MIDDLE SCHOOL.  I can not believe she's in middle school.  It's even worse if you say Junior High.  OMG, that will be here sooner than I'll be ready for as well!

Marissa was a little nervous, but also excited.  She said she had a good first day.  She liked her math class.  Changing classes when it's downstairs mixed with all 6,7,& 8th grades was crazy she said (the 6th graders have most of their classes upstairs in their own wing.).  She knows a lot of girls from her CCD class in her classes that she's friendly with.  I think she'll do ok.

Gianna started Third grade today.  She's not excited about school at all.  I'm hoping this year changes that & she will like school.  So far she just likes lunch & recess.....***sigh***  I didn't get much out of her about her day other than it was boring.  It would be great if this teacher could spark her interest.  I'm obviously worried about her more, not her grades since those are good, just her attitude about school.   I had a knot in my stomach from yesterday afternoon, & all day today until they got home.  Not a good feeling.  Crossing my fingers & saying prayers that this year will be good for her.

So here's to another year of school.  Let's hope it's fantastic!

Last Day of Summer

Today was a day of lists.

One for me.

One for the girls.

I like to share the love chores....

We all had a lot to do before school starts tomorrow.  Haircuts, getting backpacks ready, getting lunches ready, after school activity sign ups, library returns, finishing up summer school packets (BLEH!), and of course, laundry. 

We got all the important things crossed off the lists.  A few minor things were not, but no worries.  My biggest worry is Marissa starting MIDDLE school.  I am so nervous for her!  She's nervous about a few things (finding her way around, remembering her locker combination).  I hope she gets through it with a big smile on her beautiful face.

I'm nervous about Gianna starting third grade too.  She had a very tough year last year.  It's changed things & I'm praying that this year things fall into place for her.  I hope she learns to enjoy school again, and not just recess.  Hoping this teacher "gets her".

I realize that I need to scrap both their last school years for their albums before I fall too far behind again.  I have a feeling it will take awhile since there were A LOT of pics from Marissa's year.  I am hoping to get on it soon though, especially with them being in school, I'm hoping for some un-interrupted scrap time.  I don't want to jinx myself but I'm halfway through July's pics for Project Life....I had a marathon scrapping night the other night staying up until 3:30am....yes I paid for it the next day, but it was worth it! 

August 365

August, it's been a fun filled month. 

We managed a lot of great memories this month. 

Lots of swimming.

We also managed to do some major clean outs. 

Lots of cleaning.

All in all, it was a good month.