LAYOUT SHARE: Puppy Love

An older photo of my daughter and our dog playing outside.  I added pink crystals along the dots in the grey patterned paper. Love the way that came out.

Title:  Puppy Love

Supplies:  Studio Calico kit Story Hour (March 2012), old Creative Imagination Heart stickers, some resin flower brads from a previous kit and some pink crystals from my stash.

LAYOUT SHARE: Why Fit In

I originally created this for a Dr. Seuss challenge but, as often happens, I did not get it posted in time.  I still love the way it turned out and am happy to share it here.

Title:  Why Fit In

A fun Dr. Seuss quote:
Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

Supplies:  Studio Calico kit Story Hour (March 2012), plus a few alpha stickers and a couple rub ons from my stash

LAYOUT SHARE: 6 Month Sweetie

This page is about my daughter at 6 months old.  Hard to believe that was 13 years ago!

Title:  6 Month Sweetie

Products Used:  Studio Calico kit Story Hour (March 2012)

THURSDAY THOUGHTS: On a Friday

I have so many thoughts to share and I want to share them all with you.  My problem is trying to stick to one thought and not dumping everything all at once.  I am going to post them a little bit at a time from now on.  They will still be titled THURSDAY THOUGHTS (for now) but will be posted as they are written.  The other parts of my blog will probably take a backseat, and I am okay with that.  I hope you are too.

I often feel that I am NOT ENOUGH.

Not smart enough.

Not pretty enough.

Not important enough.

Not a good enough mother.

Not a good enough spouse.

Not physically active enough.

Not patient enough.

You get the idea.   

This thinking leads to loneliness, depression, over eating, grumpiness and wanting more but not sure how to get it.  What a shitty state to be in.

But then I realized that in God's eyes I have always been enough.  I was born with the odds heavily stacked against me yet I survived, grew and prospered beyond my own expectations. Why did it take me 39 years to finally get this?

I am starting to approach everyday life with excitement and appreciation in a way I've never felt before.  I am learning to be a role model and treat life as a gift and not a burden, no matter what the circumstance.  Each life event, whether good or bad, is an opportunity to grow and isn't that what life is all about?  I think so.

One personal accomplishment to share today:

To share some good news, a friend of mine asked to do some collaboration using her amazing jewelry skills and my polymer clay pendants.  This is the first one she's made and she entered it into a contest on Vintaj.  It doesn't look like it will win, but I am so excited to see my pendant as part of such a beautiful piece!  

LAYOUT SHARE: Getting Braces

Another layout this week using the March, 2012 Studio Calico kit "Story Hour."  Photos of my daughter getting braces last year.  

Title:  Getting Braces

Journaling:  You were so excited to get them.  It was

June, 2011 and we had Bella sitting in the stroller watching.

You can't tell from the photo but I added Glossy Accents to the diamonds so they have dimension and shine.  

FABULOUS FINDS: Tiny Plants in Tiny Spaces

I love this look!   Are all three of these cactus? 

I am going to recreate this for my home!  

(Originally posted on the Decor8 blog.) 

THURSDAY THOUGHTS: Catch Up

The past several weeks have been full of ups and downs.  

My grandma passed away on March 4.  The funeral went well, although the Father's eulogy touched me greatly when he said that my grandma was a great cook throughout her life and that God will be able to use her talents to prepare a great feast for us when it is our time to join her.  Then it was announced that we would sing Amazing Grace and I lost it.  I can't even hear that song on a good day without crying, and I didn't know it was part of her service.  Before the first word was sung I started bawling and fought the urge to run out of the church.  My niece, Erin, and my brother, David, held me up from each side and made me feel loved.  I had to take many deep breaths (and try not to listen to the song) in order to make it through.  It is one of my favorite songs, but I find it incredibly personal and that I am not worthy of God's grace.  The last song they sung was another of my favorites, How Great Thou Art, which I listen to every morning on my musical angel that my other grandma had made for me.

It was wonderful to see a few of my relatives that I hadn't seen in a very long time.  My cousin, Dan, in particular.  He is such an adventurer and has accomplished so much in his life that I felt like I was meeting a celebrity.  Even though we were close as children I was nervous and had trouble even approaching him.  He did approach me, however, and we were able to catch up a bit (and I didn't act like a tongue-tied fool).  I feel blessed that I had a chance to see him again.

On the same day my son had his strings recital.  I felt bad for missing it, but Hubby did videotape some of it for me.   When I asked my son later how it went and if he had been nervous, he said "A little bit, but once the music started it was like I was in my own little world."  He got lost in the music.  That strikes me as an unusual comment for a 10 year old to make and further solidifies my sense that he has some great natural musical abilities.  

We had my Hubby's 40th birthday party.  It was a disco theme and he had set up our garage to be one big dance floor.  He draped black plastic on the walls, hung a disco ball and strobe light, and put in a black light.  He also had a bubble machine going.  The music was pumped and we had a blast.  (The kids later asked that we do it again for their birthday in July.)

My Hubby dressed the part, as is his custom.  He had a huge afro, a silver sparkle scarf tied around it, an exceptionally appropriate patterned shirt, black leather vest, plaid pants and big sunglasses.  We weren't able to find big jewelry or 70's style shoes but he looked great without them.

We had expected a bigger turnout so we were left with a lot of leftover food.  I think this will be one of his more memorable parties.

Last night my daughter and I went to see the Hunger Games.  She read all of the books some time ago, but I haven't.  The movie was awesome!  The lead character, played by Jennifer Lawrence, is incredibly beautiful.  I am not sure that I've seen her before but I plan to watch her other movies now.

LAYOUT SHARE: Katerina Rose

Made with the March, 2012 Studio Calico kit "Story Hour", a layout using my daughter's photos taken when she was just a few weeks old....13 years ago!

Title:  Katerina Rose

The only old product used here were the red flower stickers...believe those were from BasicGrey.