Certified Paper Freak

Look What I Got In The Mail!

  Hi everyone. Look what I got in the mail.
It actually came in last week and I didn't even know.  I bought these at Tammy Gray's Etsy shop. This link is to her blog.  She posted a very generous RAK giveaway today for some beautiful things on her etsy.  If you haven't visited her blog yet, you should hurry on over there.  You won't be disappointed.  I can't wait to make greeting cards using these beauties.  They are even more gorgeous in person!  The second one says - "Goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life."  Psalms 23:6
Just Beautiful.

I can't believe that it is already Wednesday, and it's the last day of the month.  The days and the months are just flying by.  I'm hoping that the coming month of May will be a little less chaotic and that I can get some deep cleaning done here at home.  I am planning on cleaning out all the closets and purging  out my kitchen cabinet too.  That always make me feel so much better.

My hubby and I got a gift certificate at Christmas for a stay at a bed and breakfast.  I am hoping that May will be the month for a little getaway for just the two of us!  That's always so fun and refreshing. 

What are your plans for the coming month and what do you do for recreation?  I was sharing with a friend yesterday that my pastor at that time once said that recreation is a time to refresh and relax; a time to "re-create" yourself or rejuvenate so to speak.  I like that and I've never forgotten that little tidbit.  So, when I am feeling a little  guilty about some time away or some recreation time, I remember that it is good for me in more ways than one.  I guess it's all about that one little word...balance. 

Hope you are having a great week.  Don't forget to go to Tammy's blog and play along for the awesome RAK.

Sandra

Love Like This

Wow!  My hubby and I had such a great weekend in Austin visiting my son.  We didn't get much rest, but we sure had a lot of fun!  The only problem is that I can't seem to catch up on my rest.  I've been really busy with work lately and I can't seem to wind down and relax.  I even went for a massage last week on Wednesday.  Oh, let me tell you, I loved it.  If I could,  I would go every week.  How about you?  How do you relax?

I finally got to get a layout done. YaY!  It was one I wanted to get done for the challenge at Scrapping the Music a couple of weeks ago, but I had company that week and didn't get it done.  I knew I would, eventually, and today was the day.  My hubby and I had gone on a weekend trip and we found this historical church out in the middle of nowhere.  We saw the steeple and took a detour to go see what we could see.  It was really pretty awesome.  I had been saving those photos to scrap and when I heard the song,  Love Like This by Natasha Bedingfield,  it was the perfect inspiration.

I was over at Sharmaine's blog , (love her blog) and she mentioned that Lusi Austin is having a really awesome RAK drawing.  Hop over to her blog for a chance at all the goodies -

I'm gonna go on over to Scrapping the Music and see what the new challenge is this week.  You want to join me?

I leave you with a picture of me and my son goofing around while we were talking to his girlfriend on the computer.

Journaling  on this layout reads:  When this life tries to keep us apart, You keep calling me back to Your heart...You're the One who saved me...

Hope you'll share a bit of your home with me

YaY!  It's  Friday!  We have been trying lately to take Fridays off, but it has been so busy.  Thank you, Father God!  What a blessing.

I have been thinking a lot about this lately, and I think that our homes say so much about who we are.  It doesn't matter how much it cost, or what neighborhood it's in, our homes are very personal.

A house is just a house, but a home is so warm and so special.  It is a little bit of ourselves poured into it.  Ourselves being, "us" as a family, or "me" if you're single.

Here is a little corner of my home.  It is my guest room in the carriage house.  My husband and I love to have our family and friends here as often as they can come for a visit.   Hope you enjoy.

I hope that you will share a little about yourself with me by posting a little corner of your home here for me to enjoy!

Gotta run.  I have a lot of work to do before I can start my weekend road trip.

Have a safe and fun weekend.
Sandra

Austin Bound!

Gosh, sittin in bed with my computer on my lap, trying to unwind.  Just got back into town. Combined business with pleasure and got to see my family again this week. YaY!  I have been really busy with work this week and haven't gotten to post much. 

Planning a weekend trip to see my son.  I haven't seen him in a couple of months so I'm really excited.  Great things happening for him right now.  He is finally realizing how much God has blessed him.  Be still my heart!

Maybe I can sneak in a trip to Archivers.   Just an added bonus.

If I don't get to post before the weekend, I hope everyone has a terrific one!

Hugs
Sandra

It's Tuesday again?

Well, I had a great week.    My daughter Burgandi, and my grandson were here on last Tuesday.  My hubby and I took them home on Sunday.  While she was here, we went to San Angelo to see my nieces play volleyball.  My sister and the girls had a school holiday so they came here  for a little mini vacation.  They were here for 3 days.  We had so much fun squabbling  over who was going to  hold Harrison, feed Harrison,  put Harrison to sleep, etc.  By the way, my hubby is the official "baby hog". 

Burgandi, Olivia, and Emily scrapbooked.  Burgandi bought Livie a scrapbook and some papers.  It was both of  my niece's first time to scrap.  They did such a awesome job.  I had fun watching and cutting Olivia's pages to 8X8 sizes. 

I wanted to give them my undivided attention so I didn't scrap or post on my blog or any sites while they were here.  Do you want to know how tempted I was though.  LOL

I had so much fun, but I have to tell you that on Monday, I was exhausted and I was feeling a little under the weather.  I'm feeling better today, so maybe I'll play a little and get something posted. 
I had photos and ideas for a couple of challenges last week so I'm gonna go ahead and do those, then try to do this weeks challenges I have my eye on. 

Glad to be back.
Sandra
   

"just being"

I was reading Sharmaine's  blog (her blog is on my sidebar)  today and it really made me think.  As moms we are always so busy. I know for me, I got caught up in the busy-ness and sometimes thrived on it, but hopefully for the most part, we were busy living and making the most out of life.  Making memories that will last more than my lifetime.

Now that my husband and I are empty nester I find that I am changing so much.  I love being at home "just being";  just piddling around the house, in the yard, in my art studio.  I am finding that I like this new me.

Don't get me wrong.  I still like to travel, shop,  go junking and all that cool stuff.  It's just that now I  enjoy "just being" too.

There are days I miss the craziness of a SAHM.   Well, not the craziness maybe, but I miss the kids everyday, for sure.   

I think Sharmaine has a great balance in her life and she is "busy" making memories her and her family will cherish forever. 

love and hugs
Sandra

News to pass along

This is just a short post to let you know about a few things.   I hope to make another post later today.

Scrapping the Music Challenge posted the new song of the week and I already have my idea brewing.  Come play along here:  http://scrappingthemusic.blogspot.com/.   You really don't want to miss out on the fun. 

My brother is a police officer and he is having to guard the kids (and adults) who taken from the compound in El Dorado and taken to San Angelo.  It is breaking his heart.  He goes home so torn up after working out there.  I haven't watch a lot of the news coverage about this, but what I have seen isn't alway accurate.  Please, if you think about it, pray for all that are involve in this situation, from the people watching and caring for them to of course, the people from the compound. Thanks.

On a much lighter note, I want to send a big "Thank You"  shout out to Barbara at:  http://wheretheteaissteeping-scrap.blogspot.com/ for sending me a blogging award.

I reward this people in return:  (I had a hard time stopping at 5 too, but I didn't want to push it too far)

http://debeecampos.blogspot.com/
http://skruijver.blogspot.com/http://
www.te365daysofme.blogspot.com/ http://
www.3peasinapoddesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.danielleflanders.blogspot.com/
http://www.divingforpearls.typepad.com/
http://www.scrapthatmoment.com/lynettedaniel/

Here are the rules:
1. You have to nominate 5 blogs.
2. Each of the blogs must have a purpose!
3. The nominated blogs must make a link back to this page!
4. The logo from the award must be put on their blog and it must link back to this blog.

I couldn't  get the logo on here. Sorry guys.  I'm VERY computer challenged.  I do good to do what I do here. (try saying that fast 5 times)  You can check out Barbara's blog to get yours right.    Hope to  post a scrapped page later. 

Love and huggs to all of you.
Sandra

Having a great weekend

I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Mr. Wonderful and I had a great day.  We drove to San Angelo today so that he could play golf with my dad, brother and nephew.  They had a great time.   My mom, sister and my nieces just hung out and did a little shopping.   They have a nice scrapbook store there,  so I picked up a few fun things.  My niece, Olivia, went with me to the LSS and she saw a cute mini album that is  a class project.  It was shaped like an ice cream  bar.  She picked out some papers and asked me to make her one.  Hope I get to have some fun with them soon.  Maybe tomorrow while Mr. Wonderful is watching the Masters.

I ran into a very special friend that I hadn't seen in a while.   It was so good to see her.   Do you have a friend that you haven't seen or talked to in a while?   I challenge you to call them or write them some snail mail.   I hope you can make that connection with your friend.    Do it soon. 

Mr. Wonderful and I just got back from Starbucks  where we had a thumb war.   I lost.  I usually do, unless he lets me win. 

Gotta run.   Have a happy Sunday!
Sandra

yummy roses

My sweet friend and neighbor brought me some very lovely roses from her garden.  I've said it before but I'm gonna say it again; I have the best neighbors.  The BEST!  We have so much fun.
They smell so yummy!

In return I made her this card.  The "K" is actually a magnet that she can remove and use.  I entered this card into a challenge on Danielle Flanders blog.  If you haven't checked out her blog,  you should.   You can find a link to her site on my side bar under My Happy Places.

Enjoy!

Hope you have a wonderful day.
YaY!  Weekend time.

Huggs

Slow Going

I can't seem to get going this mid morning.  Thanks in part to this little fellow, Henri.  Night before last he barked from about midnight until 8am.  I'm sure my neighbors loved me that night.   Then last night, we were supposed to get some hairy weather, but for the most part, it went around us.  All we got was some beautiful rain.   By the way, little Henri was taken to the groomer and is now back in the house.  He was snug and safe last night.   Mr. Wonderful, on the other hand called me around 12 am to say he was in a really bad storm.   Fortunately, no one was blown away, and he survived.  I didn't get much sleep last night either. 

I couldn't turn on the computer because of the storm, so I got some reading done.  That was nice.   I read a couple of magazines (I love to read magazines to get some inspiration going).  One of the magazines I  read was a digital scrapbooking magazine.  I am really wanting to do some hybrid pages.  I'm so computer challenged though.  I hope that this weekend while Mr. Wonderful is watching the Masters ( Go Tiger)  I will get to go out to the studio and have me some digi fun.  I'm also going to try to watch the digi tutorials on SiStv.  Maybe I'll get figured out enough to get a little something done.  I hope so.  We'll see.
I'm excited to try it out.