Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Let go...

I'm here! I'm alive!  I haven't posted in a while.  Just haven't had time or been in the mood.  I have decided that blogging is supposed to be enjoyable.  Therefore, I don't stress about it.  Speaking of not stressing...


This is a photo of my adorable niece Amaree in the swimsuit that Abba (Abuelita) got her for Easter.  I knew I had a gem when I finally put my hundreds (yes, hundreds!) of photos from Easter on the computer. I stumbled upon some confetti eggs at the grocery store and HAD to get them for the girls.  They had so much fun!  Kids have this amazing way of just living in the moment.  Just having fun and letting go.  Watching them is teaching me an important life lesson.  Live a little!  Quit being so grumpy and just BE in the moment.  I'm trying...

The quote above, by E.E. Cummings, is an excellent reminder!  Do you all have any tips for me? Seriously, this is a struggle.  Ask Philip.  He keeps telling me to chill. :)


Monday, February 27, 2012

Take Flight...

So, remember how in my last post I talked about dreams?  And not being afraid to take the plunge and try to make your dreams a reality?  Well, I decided that I wanted Malia to know that I support her and her dreams.  So I made her this page for her scrapbook:

Supplies: PP - Sassafras, American Crafts, Crate Paper; Cardstock - Close to My Heart, American Crafts and ???; Date Stamp - K & Company (this is their smashbook date stamp which I love! It's actually Malia's, but she let me borrow it!); Decorative Tape - American Crafts; Silhouette Cameo

I absolutely LOVE this picture of my mom and Mally 'flying'.  These kind of photos make me choke up with nostalgia (is anyone surprised by this?).  Love, love, love.  Right away I knew I wanted to do a page about her dreams taking flight.  I think it's so important to remind her that I am her #1 supporter!

I decided to play along with the Silhouette Sketch Challenge, so my page is based on this sketch:
 As you can see, I changed a few things up, but I tried to keep the main idea and 'open space' of the page.  I love how it turned out!  Here are some of the details:

 The messy date stamp...I am loving this look!


 Love the 'airy' feel that this Amy Tangerine + American Crafts feather paper gives to my page.  Also love those chevrons cut on the Silhouette!


 Added a few paint splatters and if you look close, you can see the Amy Tangerine + American Crafts potty people mixtape up in the corner.  Can't get enough!

Thanks for looking and have a wonderful, dream filled week!
Jen 


Saturday, February 25, 2012

Go live a crazy dream...

I've been thinking a lot about dreams lately.  Not the kind that wake you up in the middle of the night.  The kind you think about every day.  The chances you think about taking.  The things you think about doing.  The things you only dream about.

I've been thinking about how you can't always wait for your dreams to come true.  You can't just sit around and hope an opportunity presents itself.  Sometimes YOU have to make those dreams come true.
Supplies: Paper - Created by me...see this post; Cardstock - American Crafts; Paint - Making Memories, Plaid Enterprises, Inc.; Die Cut Frame - Bam Pop; Journaling Spot - Elle's Studio; Fabric Strip - Studio Calico; Bird - Cut from Basic Grey paper; Clouds - Cut from Pebbles, Inc. Paper; Letter stickers - My Little Shoebox; Stickers used for mask - Scenic Route; Glitter Charm - The Girl's Paperie; Pen - American Crafts, Sakura; Spray Ink - Tattered Angels, Duncan Enterprises.


'Whole Wide World' by Mindy Gledhill constantly inspires me to do just that.  Take a listen.  I bet she'll inspire you too!

I'm having a craft night with the girls tonight and I plan on making something to remind me to chase those dreams.  I'll share soon!  Have a good Saturday!
xo Jen

PS - Sorry I didn't post a Flashback Friday...next week, I promise!

Friday, February 17, 2012

Flashback Friday...

Here for my third installment of Flashback Friday...sorry I missed last week!  Too busy/lazy I guess...
Just a reminder; my commentary will be in salmon. :)


JOURNAL
Sat. The 15th (Maybe) {how very specific of me...I had just gotten out of third grade though, so that makes it summer of 1993, I think}


I was just reading dad's Missionary Journal, it reminded me I needed to write in my Journal so I'm here to do it.     Well for one thing, Bryan is three now! {that's my little bro} He got his picture's taken today.  For another thing one of my best friend's went boating and asked me to come.  I really wanted to, but mom said NO. {this 'NO' is circled for emphasis} I told her I could not come, and now I have no one to play with. Except Bryan.  He is not fun to play with. {I had many days like this because my little brother was so much younger than me...6 years younger}I mean it too.  I really do.  But, I play with him anyways. {no other choice, I guess.  Poor kid.  If I remember right, this was the year that he sneaked out of the house and walked a mile to my elementary school just to see me.  And I cried because I was embarrassed.  Now I have to work for that kids affection.  Should have enjoyed it back then...haha!}  Well I wrote a letter to Mrs. Williams! {this was my third grade teacher that got married and moved away halfway through my third grade year} I guess it was pretty good.  But I miss her. I love her so much.  Sometimes I even cry because she is gone. Vanished, almost forever. {I don't think I actually cried about her being gone.  I just threw this in for dramatic effect} I hope she comes back. I Just Want To Express My Love For Her And HER HUSBAND. {Not sure why I chose to capitalize those words...} I hope Mark treats her good and is like a husband should be.  I hope her roommates miss her as much as the whole Valley View does. {I was way too concerned} Well better play 10 QUESTIONS with dad before he falls ASLEEP! {'ASLEEP' was also circled for emphasis} Well better write one more thing dads not almost done reading yet! Well I'm gonna go show mom what I've written.  Be back tomorrow BYE!
P.S. i saw her in December {Mrs. Williams, I meant.  And obviously I added this months later}
P.P.S. She lives in Gorgia now and its farther away!

DIARY
who knows when...{but looking back, probably fifth grade, based on who my crush was}
Now I'm really starting to think James likes me! He kept staring at me today: More than usual! Oops! I'm sorry. I didn't tell you he's always staring at me! {Can't believe I left that out.  Who wouldn't want to stare at this:

...all day long?} Sorry but I had to change from pencil to pen.  Well back to James!  I just wish he would ask me to go out with him.  But I'm afraid that that will never ever happen!  But it's only because he's so shy. {How freakin' cocky was I?}  Well, he's not exacly shy, he'd just be too embaresd you know what I mean? {There comes my humble pie...}  I mean, face it.  He actually show off and is funny, all for me! {Nevermind about the humble thing}  I was just gonna put for me, but then it could lead to one problem after another.  You know what I mean?  I will put a picture on the back of this on the very last 'page'.  Look now.

{I cut his teeny face out of my class picture and put it in the back of my diary. Wow.}
Isn't he so cute?  Well if you don't think so you are not my friend, stupid, uncoordinated, and ediot, a jerk, a but hole {whoa.  Harsh}, and so on and on and on and on and on.  You know what I mean?  Today at Girls Scouts, {PS, at the time, I was super embarrassed to be a girl scout.  I thought I was way too old.  I hid this from my friends} we (Jennifer C. Elizabeth M. and of course, me!) were talking about him and Elizabeth thinks he's cute.  Jenny said that nobody in our class thinks that.  And I said "Well maybe thats not true" I said. {Oh snap!} And she goes, "You?" and she started laughing!  Then I said so you like Nic M.! And she got mad and we went up to Nics house and played "basketball" {not sure why this is in quotes.  Was it another form of basketball? Was basketball not a real thing to me? What?!?} and "Ditchum" whatever thats supposed to mean!  You know what I mean?  I don't know how many times I've said "You know what I mean?" {4.  5 if you count the one in quotes just now}  I don't know why I said it (wrote it)  I just thought it and wrote it!  you know what I mean? {I am so annoying}  Oh my Gosh I a m so SORRY! I just can't stop writing that! {I'm sure...}  Well I gotta go.  Bye! Bye!


Hope you enjoyed!  I am already laughing about next weeks entry...hahahaha!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

We're so fly...

Just had to share one of the reasons Philip and I work so well as a couple.  For Valentine's Day, we didn't do gifts.  We did something much cooler and this is a new tradition because it's much more lasting and way more fun.  Philip wrote the 14 reasons why I'm his Valentine, and I wrote him a V-day rap.  Writing things for each other is such a fun gift idea!  Ours aren't too personal to share, so I thought I'd do just that!
First of all, Philip hand wrapped my gift.  He was very proud for thinking this up all on his own.  Good job babe!



Inside he had written:

14 Reasons You're My Valentine

You're my one and only love

I love the small moments when we two are together

You're my favorite branch in our family three

I have never felt this way about anyone befour

You're the fiver in my diet

You're my sixth sense

I love you seven days a week

You do your best to keep me from being Leight

You will always be mnine

You are my greatest tentation

I want you by my side in the eleventh hour

I cannot wait to celebrate our twelveth year together

13 will always be lucky with you

You're the 1 4  me


Love it!  You may remember the card I made for him from my last post.


Inside, my rap went like this:

We have our ups and downs
But they're mostly up.
The glass ain't half full, boy
You fill my cup.

Every single day
I'm glad you're around.
No boy as fly as you
Will ever be found.

It's hard to express
The way I feel,
But I promise you
My love is for real.

So glad you popped me the question
Nine years ago.
Excited to be with ya
Forevah mo'.

Don't judge my skills! Haha!
Have a happy day!  Off to St. George for the weekend, but stay tuned because Flashback Friday will be up tomorrow morning!


Monday, February 13, 2012

The Best Part...

I just wanted to share with you my better half.  The best part of who I am. The one I love...

The guy who supports us in all of our scariest endeavors...


The guy who gave me her.  The other greatest thing in my life...



The guy who always makes me feel like I look good ;)


The guy who always wears his sunglasses...and looks sexy in them...



The guy I want to spend eternity with...

He is truly the best part of me.  Love him so much.
This is the card I made for him for Valentine's Day.  I actually made several cards (with paper and junk) and then decided last minute to whip up this digital thing (which I don't usually do...) and I love it!


If you need a last minute card, feel free to make use of it!  Have a wonderful day filled with love!

                                                   <3 <3 <3    Jen



Tuesday, February 7, 2012

A Quick Share...

I feel like life has been hectic lately!  With the new year I went from working part-time to working full time, got called to be an Activity Days leader for the 11 year old girls at my church, Malia is taking ballet and art classes, and on top of all that I decided that this was the year I wanted to document more!!??!  I started a smash book and was going to do at least a page a week to document our everyday goings on.  I have done 2 pages.  Ish.

So.

I was really impressed with myself when I sat down, on a weeknight,and finished a scrapbook page.  Viola!



Supplies: Patterned paper - Crate Paper, American Crafts; Fabric Strips - Studio Calico; Stickers - October Afternoon (letter), Jenni Bowlin Studios (scallop); Wood Letters - Studio Calico; Chipboard border - Crate Paper; Plastic Flowers - Jenni Bowlin Studios; Potty Girl Die Cut - Crate Paper; Stamps - Studio G (letter), Close to My Heart (tiny heart, and I stamped larger ones and cut out for a template on stitched hearts); Floss - Close to My Heart; Corner Punch - Fiskars; Ink - Stampin' Up!; Other - Paint


I broke down and got my first Studio Calico kit this month.  It had so many fun goodies, including those awesome wood letters!  Love the way this page turned out.  Are you finding time to make stuff? I wanna see...