I Can't Work Like This!

WOW, that's all I can say about this mess! I can't get creative & be crafty in this mess! It's a good thing there are only 7 more days of school. Then I can get this cleaned up & get back to being crafty again. I did sew a lot this last weekend but when I sew it's in the dining room so I didn't have to look at this horrible mess! And that little boy in my picture, he seems to always want to be on the computer when I want to craft. And when he is on the computer, he is also talking to friends on the phone, then all I hear is "Dude" this & "Dude" that! I guess I really shouldn't complain, at least I have a craft room, so what if I have to share it with a Dude!

Long Weekend!

The Memorial Day holiday brought a much needed long weekend to our house. Bubba had Friday & Monday off while Sis only had a chance to enjoy one extra day of sleeping in. Although there are only 8 days of school left, it was nice to sleep in for a few extra days & rejuvenate for the last push to summer vacation!
Friday I took Bubba & a friend & we enjoyed a morning at the zoo. We didn't so much enjoy the afternoon since it was cold & wet (what do you expect from Oregon)!
Sunday came with an invitation to my Brother & Sister-In-Law's house for a BBQ with my parents! It was a rare, sport-free weekend so we were all free. It was so nice to spend some time together. Life just seems to be busy & we don't always have time to get together. That night Bubba spent the night with my Nephew so we stopped by & picked up a friend for Sis to have spend the night. Seemed like a pretty fair trade.
Tomorrow is the beginning of another week & although it might only be a four day week I think it will be tough to get up & goin in the morning!
In the middle of other holiday activities, I got some fun crafting done. Here is a picture of the journals I am working on, just for fun;)

{this moment} May 27, 2011

{this moment} - A Friday ritual (idea borrowed from SouleMama). A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

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More Digital Layouts Ready For Pictures!

Here are four more layouts I created all ready for those summer pictures!




Just add pictures and journaling & TA-DA!!! On to the next project!

Playing Digital Style

I spent some time today preparing for a whole bunch of summer pictures which I know I will take! I played with some templates and digital kits from Shabby Princess. They are all ready for pictures. Since I spent time on this now, it's as simple as click & drag & I'm done after I get some pictures taken. I can use all the time saving ideas I can get during the busy summer months when the kiddos are home & wanting to swim, go to the zoo, the park & all that fun stuff. Oh, I am getting so excited. Only 12 more days of school (not that I'm counting or anything)!




Not many pictures from over the weekend. I forgot my camera when we went to Bubba's lacrosse game & Sis marched in a parade but refused to let me take pictures (understandable since I have seen the marching uniforms)! Hopefully I can take some good ones this week. Have a great start of your week!

{this moment} May 20, 2011

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wishing you a lovely weekend!

More Action Examples

So, I have been talking a little about Photoshop Actions. The hard working, creative people who make these actions rock my world & rank right up there with my favorite childhood heros. Actions are like Photoshop editing for Dummies, they are like point & shoot cameras, they are like flipping on a light switch. Since I am no expert, I am all over these babies! And while they are not for everyone, I tend to love them. Here are a few other photos I have played around with using actions. These photos were all edited using the same two actions, both from The Coffee Shop Blog.
First I added the Butterscotch Vintage action, then flattened the image & then added Magic Sunset. A little different look, but very sweet in my opinion. Hopefully I will have more time soon to share some more! But for now, simply enjoy!

Some Weekend Pictures

What a crazy busy weekend. Two lacrosse games, another drive to Lexi's BFFs house to pick her up, and a great family BBQ at my Aunt & Uncle's farm. We gathered to meet & be reacquainted with my Mom's Cousin & his family, but any reason to get together is good for me. We just don't see each other enough in my opinion. Here are a few farm pictures with fun Photoshop actions to make them cool looking!

Finally Mother's Day Pix

Our calender was full again this week but we made it through in one piece! I worked five days this week, more lacrosse practices, three Winterhawk games (Which we watched on TV this time not at the Rose Garden:), and Lexi's BFF's birthday sleepover (which required a very long drive on a Friday evening since her BFF lives a ways away). Oh I am so ready for long Summer days!
Mother's Day was last Sunday & I am just now getting pictures up from my day. I did have a great day, of course because I planned the entire day! I have been planning my own celebrations since I was about 5. I'm not sure if it is a control thing, or if I just like planning parties? The kiddos & I ran up to see my Mom & give her the scrapbook pages I made her, then we went to see the Disney African Cats movie. When we got home from the movie G was hard at work making cheese filled burgers for dinner. Pretty perfect day & the kiddos made me strawberry cupcakes:) Happy day to me!
Here are a few of the pictures I snapped on my day edited with some of those actions I talked about before!

Spencer totally plugged in. I-Pod headphones in while playing his DS. Multi tasking at it's finest!

OH SO yummy cupcakes!

The two greatest kiddos & the reasons I call Mother's Day, My Day!

Lately I have been getting so many pictures that have Lexi's hand in front of her face! Oh to be a teenager.

Hard at work whipping up my cupcakes.
Another weekend has already arrived & we are off and running as usual. But the school countdown has begun & we are just a few short weeks away from Summer vacation. Now if the sunshine would just come out from behind those big, black rain clouds I'd be one happy camper!
Take care!

If You're My Mom, Don't Look!!!

Tomorrow is Mother's Day & I love the fact that my Mom asks for scrapbook pages for every holiday! So, for Mother's Day this year I decided to start a new album for her. Her new album is all about the camping trips they take with their three grand kids! Luckily I invite myself on these trips so I have many pictures to chose from (except the Trillium Lake trip pictures seem to be MIA! We will be adding more pages to her album this summer as we add more memories to our family adventures! I can't wait!








I think she is going to love her Mother's Day gift!

May 2011 Already?!?

Life is crazy busy! I know I say that a lot & sometimes it seems over dramatic (I know where my daughter gets it), but it is true. With two kids who play sports, act, take classes, and play instruments it's no wonder time is flying by so quickly!
Because we are so busy, some things just need to be put on the back burner, and for me blogging was one of those things that needed to wait until I found some extra time. I still don't have much extra time but a very important person mentioned that he hasn't seen any new blog posts in a while. So, I will be making more of an effort to share our crazy, busy life with you!
Here are just a few pictures from the past week:


It has been an exhausting couple of months & the kiddos & I just needed to run away for a few days so we took off to the beach with my parents. We had two extra days off school so we took off Wednesday afternoon (thanks goodness Bubba's finger was not broken & we didn't have to find the Urgent Care in Seaside;)It was a great little trip and we all had a blast shopping @ second hand stores, eating doughnuts, visiting the new stores in town, exploring, sleeping in & just enjoying each other's company! Thanks Mom & Dad, that was just what we needed!

After the kiddos & I got back from a few days at the beach with my parents our dryer stopped drying. With all the dirty beach clothes, the timing of this event was horrible! For two days we had wet clothes hanging all over the house. Luckily I married "Mr. All Around Fix It Guy" and he found the parts needed to get heat to my dryer again! Thanks G, you rock!

Three days a week (at least) you can find me either driving to Lacrosse practice or standing in the rain watching a Lacrosse game. Yes, it's Bubba's third year playing & he simply loves it. This year G is assistant coaching which is good because I don't have to stick around for the practices, I just have to make sure he gets there with ALL his gear!

My two favorite munchkins at the Portland Winterhawks game last Saturday. It was game 5 in the playoffs & we won! I really don't like watching hokey on TV but in person, the games are so much fun! Not to mention it's one activity the four of us all enjoy (and you know how hard it is to find things the whole family enjoys)!
This past week I have found some great photo actions & I will be talking about those more soon. Working hard to make sure I use my camera and capture my kiddos while they are still young!
Enjoy!