Certified Paper Freak

ok. so i learned something new today. if you Quick Compose you can only post one picture at a time.
so here's the Texas highway.
have a good weekend.
:)

i have never used the Quick Compose button on my TypePad blog so i wanted to see how it works.
i really can't believe that we are now into the 5th month of this year. my life is busy and i'm loving it, but the day just fly by. i'm trying to soak up the joy out of every minute.
merry Friday everyone!
here's a couple of pictures of the Texas highway i took last weekend.
and of course of Little Man too.

hey, grab your camera! Picture Spring!https://www.typepad.com/secure/account/profile/accounts

Picture Spring! i am definitely signing up for this class given by Tracy Clark, founder of Shutter Sisters.  i've heard that it takes 30 days to create a habit and i am more than willing to make it a habit to carry my camera with me everywhere i go and take at least 1 picture everyday.  
 
i am so excited that spring is here...even if it was cold, wet, sleeting and snowing on the first day of spring. hey, it's Texas. what do you expect? sunny and balmy one day, and sleeting and snowing the next. nice! that didn't stop us from enjoying the day. we took one excited little man to see Thomas and Friends: Hero of the Rails. he loved it. as we were getting ready to leave the theater he was talking all about it and he said, 'It was pretty good'.

i also finished putting out almost all of my spring and Easter decorations and cleaned up the house a little bit. i'm ready to roll up my sleeves and do some spring cleaning around here and get all these container pots that we had already planted back outside.

i hope you are enjoying the new spring season too.

seed hearts and blooms

this is Thursdays prompt for the art journaling class that i'm taking.   i had  a little trouble with this one, but i do like the way the page turned out.  it should have a more surreal feel to it.  i think i'm gonna use another image and try this again.
this image is from La Vie Claire, and the cool thing is that the quote came with it. it describes how i've felt lately creating these pages.  i'm not sure that my art journal pages are so beautiful, but i have been very pleased with them and i can't tell you how much fun this class is.   i told the instructor, Marit,   that i was afraid that i was not going to enjoy this class because i didn't think i would be able to keep up with the other girls.i thought it was going to add move stress to my already stressed out days.  but no. nope, no no.  our class is made up of the nicest ladies.  i feel so comfortable and safe.  we are all learning from each other. we give each other constructive criticism,  and Marit is on the spot, ready to answer any questions we have.  thanks Jocelyn for inviting me to take this class with you.

the quote says:  "find the seed at the bottom of your heart and bring forth beautiful flowers."
 

 

i had fun playing with these collage makers from Smilebox andPicnik.
there will be more to come for sure.

well, todays prompt is posted,  so i'm off to see what i can get my hands dirty with.

chicken soup and snow

in my last post i thanked Annemarie andMarit for giving me an award, but the links weren't working and i couldn't get it edit right. so here they are. do yourselves a favor and pay them a visit.

i think this post is going to be heavy with the pics.

it snowed here and it's a real treat since we don't get much snow here.  i took advantage of this and went out to take some pictures. hope you enjoy them.

   

and Harrison made us some chicken soup last night. it was delicious.


this has been a fun morning. Harrison and i are having peppermint hot chocolate and Papa J is having a good cup of joe.

our new prompt is up for my art journaling class so i'll be posting a new page soon.
stay warm and dry(and safe)  if you're in the middle of a snow storm right now.

so many new things to blog about

WoW! it has been way i long since i've posted anything. i know that most of posts start off with this or something similar. it's been a very busy few months. i was planning on keeping up with this blog on a very regular basis. life just threw me a curve ball, but i'm adjusting now.  Burgandi and Mike have separated and i have been helping them by keeping Harrison for them while Burgandi found a job and a sitter. you know what they say about change though. it's the only thing that is constant. Burgandi is now working and the sitter is in place. Harrison will be going home soon and not just for a few days at a time. i think we will be making lots of frequent trips to see them (like we don't usually anyway... LOL). i think Harrison will be coming for lots of overnight stays.  i miss the time that Burgandi and i used to spend together just hanging out or shopping or scrapping. hopefully soon we can get some girl time in.

a couple of weeks ago 2 of my friends(Annemarie and Marit) gave me a blog award.

Thanks for the award Anne Marie and Marit.

And now for the rules (yep, there always are rules…)

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link the person’s blog who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreative Bloggers.
6. Post a link to the 7 you nominated.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs to let them know
   they have been nominated.

so here are 7 things that you may not know about me but might find interesting:

1.  i wanted to be a writer when i was a little girl. i still want to be a writer when i grow up. :)
2.  i bought my dog some really cool dog shampoo one time.  so cool that i didn't realize it was his        and i took a shower with it one day. 
3.  i hate to drive, but i love to travel...so i drive.
4.  i eat pizza with just a little bitty bit of sauce and very little cheese. so basically, it's bread and meat.
5.  i love to wear my TomTom's.
6.  i can't write in a straight line to save my life.
7.  i've made 3 art journal pages in the last week! WooHoo. this would be thanks to Marit. i am taking her on-line class(Let it Loose) that Jocelyn invited me to take with her. this has really been more fun than i ever thought it would be. i am learning so many new techniques and just letting myself let loose and play with play and so many other things. 

if you have never visited Annemarie or Marits blog you are missing out. both are very talented and artistic bloggers. hop on over there.

and if you happen to stop by here and read this, please participate in the award. i'd like to read 7 new things about you too.  here are some pictures of the art journal pages i have done. i'm open to any tips anyone wants to give me. thanks!

wishes, dreams and realities

a sweet friend of mine sent me a prayer and i'd like to share it with you.  i know that Christmas time is a time of peace and LOvE and family.  i also know that in the midst of all the preparations and celebrations, stress and chaos are usually added in also.  i hope that you will keep this prayer in your heart today and everyday as we get ready for the new year.

St. Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within. 

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be..
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. 
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. 
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.. 
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. 
It is there for each and every one of us. 

...and speaking of the new year, i know a lot of us are thinking of new beginnings.  new hopes and dreams. i am hoping to look back on this year and see what was in my heart as a wish.  what kept me from turning this wish into a dream with wings?  how can i make this dream become a reality?  where is the courage that i need to see this into fruition. maybe now is the time for mondo beyondo dreams.

today is a pajama day

This was waiting for me when i got home from Pittsburgh!  it is such an adorable card with so much detail.  i just love the colors and the bling-y scarf.   it made me smile.

this box made me smile too.
 

and not just because these delicious products where in there
 

...but because this sweet lady thought about me!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Jocelyn.
i just want you to know that you have kept me sane this year and you put some merry in my heart. thank you. 

so i must confess that even though i got up around 5 am this morning, it's been a busy morning.  i am going to run a hot tub, use these yummy products and put on some fresh pajamas. i'm going to make a cup of hot chocolate, put on a holiday movie and start wrapping all those presents.
it's definitely going to be a pajama day.

my wish for all of you is a very Merry Christmas to you and your families.

the jokes on me

okay. here we go.
my son, Jakey, is moving back to Texas.  WooHoo! he is currently living in Pittsburgh, PA.  my plan was to go up there on Saturday, Dec 5th, and help him with his moving sale and then the drive back to Austin.  i knew that we wouldn't be getting back home until around the middle of the month, and with Christmas right around the corner i wanted to have the house decorated, the trees up and the outside all done up before i left. my hubby and i worked very hard and we stayed up very very late the night before i was leaving so that we could get this all  done. my flight was to leave at 5:50 am so i needed to be at the airport at least by 5:00 am.  when we finally went to bed around 2:30 am i felt that maybe it was better for me to just stay up so i wouldn't over sleep. you can probably see where this is going. we set the alarm for 4:00 am and off to dream land i immediately went. the alarm went off and i groggily got up and got ready to go. my sweet hubby drove me to the airport and we got there too late for me to check my bag, so i was going to have to carry it on. same thing for the lady in front of me who was traveling to Canada with about 4 bags.
stick with me. this is where it gets good. the computers were misbehaving and they couldn't change her flight or find her itinerary. it's a very small airport and they only had one person working the ticket counter. she finally had to get help. a young girl comes in from de-iceing the plane to help her. she has more ice on her than the plane. after about 40 minutes they finally get her all squared away and by this time i've missed my flight (even though it's sitting on the tarmac because of the sleet). so they try to put me on the next flight out. they try and try to pull up my itinerary with no luck. i finally ask if it's at all possible for me to fly out on the next day if i am going to be getting into Pittsburgh late that evening. they tell me i can. for a small price, of course. they continue to look for my itinerary and finally the yourg girl looks up at me after about 20 more minutes and says, 'you're booked on the flight that leaves on Sunday, Dec 6th. you're not late. you're a day early'. we all lost it. we all laughed so hard. i was glad that there was no one behind me in line that missed their flight because of me.

so on Sunday, Dec 6th, i get up to the ticket counter (in time to check my bag) and i tell the young girl, "yesterday was a dry run. today should go a lot smoother". and it did.

so go ahead. have a good laugh. on me.
we all did.

i'm in Pittsburgh now and we are having a good time getting all his things sold and out of here. he still has a dining room set to sell and we are taking lots of things to Goodwill. i got to meet some of the ladies he has been working with. they were so nice. i knew immediately that they would be ladies i would hang around with if i lived here. we had a great time.

we should be leaving either later today or early tomorrow and be home at least by Friday. i miss you babe. Burgandi, i hope you're better. see you all soon.

this has been spotted on many blogs...

Today,  Annemarie sent me this blog award:

The rules (yep, rules!) are:
I need to pass this on to five people. Post on their blog that I gave them this award,
and then I need to answer a list of questions in one word.

Well OK, here we go…

1. Where is your cell phone? on the chair next to me
   
2. Your hair? longer than it's been in a few years
   
3. Your mother? my hero
4. Your father? my hero
   
5. Your favorite food? depends on my mood
   
6. Your dream last night? nightmare i want to forget
   
7. Your favorite drink? water with lemon
   
8. Your dream/goal? to be more disciplined
9. What room are you in? Burgandi's livingroom
   
10. Your hobby? crafts
11. Your fear? that i failed my kids
    
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? enjoying life beside my sweet hubby wherever we may be
13. Where were you last night? asleep. finally.
    
14. Something that you aren’t? bored
15. Muffins? not really. i prefer cupcakes. 
    
16. Wish list item? umm...a clean studio
    
17. Where did you grow up? Texas
18. Last thing you did? blog hog
    
19. What are you wearing? pj's
20. Your tv? usually on HGTV
    
21. Your pets? a very sweet cat.
    
22. Friends? really cool. really sweet.
23. Your life? blessed
24. Your mood? merry
25. Missing someone? yes. my hubby.
    
26. Vehicle? SUV
27. Something you are not wearing? socks
28. Your favorite store? probably some scrapbook store...or Anthropology...or PotteryBarn...
    
29. Your favorite color? yellow
30. When was the last time you laughed? early this morning
    
31. Last time you cried? last Wednesday
32. Your best friend? lives too far away
    
33. One place that I go to over and over? my computer
34. Facebook? Yes.
    
35. Favorite place to eat? Hickory Street Cafe...but really depends on my mood

well, i didn't follow the rules as you can see.  some things just needed more than one word to describe.

i had fun reading about Annemarie.  i even had fun answering these questions. so if you haven't done this please join in and let me know. if you have, send me a link so i can read yours.