Some people...

Are just too creative for their own good!

(But at least they share their brilliance with the world!)

Christina has this great layered, rich, textured, elegant digital thing going right now, and it is so stunning! Seriously blows my mind!

This is paper #7 from her PHRESH (like under construction today!) group called "ShabbyChic". I also used one of her journaling spots, her "polaroid" brushes, 7 Gypsies arrows and brads and Natalie Malan's crystal borders from her "Sugar Cookie" add-on kit.
The challenge on the Method Playground for tomorrow is to use bling. So I have bling on the brain baby! I will share my paper version that gets posted with the challenge tomorrow after the next challenge blogpost is up.

It snowed a ton again today, very windy, cold and gorgeous! Call me crazy, but I really love it when it is like this! Tomorrow will be a bluebird day, we have a huge high pressure coming in and that makes it super cold and really bright blue skies, something Utah is lucky to get, sun in the winter! Keeps things cheerful!

Getting things ready for a little celebrating tomorrow, we aren't big party people, but spending a little time with friends and family in a quiet setting is something I really enjoy!
Hope everyone has a wonderful day tomorrow!
B-

Hugs!

My extraordinary friend, Kim Hughes is a stamp designer for Cornish Heritage Farms.

Her designs are so darling and immensely practical! The little sentiment on this card is from her "Hugs and Kisses" design sheet. This sheet is filled with wonderful ideas for cards and projects that practically make themselves!
The background is Basic Grey and the top is Making Memories from the "Noteworthy" notebook. Buttons are Autumn Leaves and brads are DCWV.

I just needed a quick fun project to get me out of my holiday overdrive funk! This was so fun, cute and quick that it totally picked me up! And I am sure that the special person I give it to will really appreciate it as well!

I feel so fortunate to have such immensely talented friends, I always feel inspired and loved!

That is what I really want to try to focus on this year, treasuring and appreciating the people who mean so much in my life!

As this year draws to a close, what is it you want to take from it and try to do better next year?

I would love to hear your thoughts!

B-

Phew...

Holidays are hectic.

I haven't gotten a thing done, and I am whooped.

Finally made it back to the gym yesterday and today with Teresa, so needed that! Was getting that gooey feeling that gets me all depressed.

We met a couple of local borzoi owners last night, Sharon and Melissa. Melissa brought her four fuzz kids over, and we all visited for close to two hours, it was wonderful! Her dogs are beautiful and so well mannered, we just didn't want them to leave! It just made us that much more excited about getting the little man! Sharon is sharing so much of her experience with us as well, links to read up on and an open door for us if we have questions or need help! So great that with a puppy we get so many friends too! A few thins we are looking forward too that they told us about are racing days where the local owners get together and let the dogs "race"! The dogs just love to go all out, and it sounds so cool to see a bunch of these gorgeous, sleek dogs going as fast as they can! They also do play dates at the dog park, and hikes in Millcreek, stuff that I just love doing! I still miss Avalanche terribly, but I am feeling like the hole in my heart that he left will not hurt as much with a new cold nose being put into it! Anyway, we need a warm day so that the little guy can get on an airplane and get here, so if you don't mind wishing for a tiny change in the weather, that would be great!

B-

Grampa Baggs and I...

And a new kit from 7 Gypsies! A very happy combination!

I am really loving the 7 Gypsies digital kits, they just make my mind explode with the possiblities. They print out beautifully, and are so VERSATILE!!!


Christmas was funny and fun! The kids had been told that they weren't getting gifts because of the puppy, but when they woke up there were gifts under the tree. So they opened gifts, hilarity ensued when they found under all of the wrapping paper all kinds of puppy items! Leashes, collars, shampoo, biscuits, treats and most importantly toys! The kids have each claimed a favorite and I think that they are substituting as lovies until the little man get here (which at this point can't be soon enough!)
Anyway, we had a pleasant afternoon and evening by going to see National Treasure with the rest of the family and having dinner at my parents house.
A Project Runway season 1 marathon today has made for great converstaion and the re-hash of the highs and lows of a brilliant show!
I love the slow days of the holiday break, when you can enjoy each others company!
We appreciate so much the name suggestions for the puppy too, they are being discussed at length, with everybody's opinions being shared! Very fun!
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and that you are having a little time to slow down as well!
B-

What kind of cuteness is this?

We are adding a new member to our family!Dave and I got bamboozled by the kids, kind of a long story, but here is the long and short.
The kids have banded together. They are very savvy and have Dave and I figured out!

They have been lobbying for a while for a new puppy, they have gone through the books and websites researching what would be a good match for our family. I wasn't ready and until this point had been not very approachable about the subject. I still really miss Avalanche.

Well the kids dropped the bomb on us at the beginning of the month that all they wanted for Christmas was a puppy. And not only do they agree that they are willing to forego all gifts, but they have all agreed on one breed! AMAZING!

This was how I had managed to avoid the question, one wanted one thing and one another. Made it possible for me to say we can't do it until we agree. They got me on my own words, LOL!

All four of them have held ranks too, this entire time. Dave and I spent a lot of time looking for breeders who would have pups that we would find reputable and would want to have a puppy from. Let me just tell you, the type that they had decided on is called a "Borzoi", they are also known as Russian Wolfhounds. They are beautiful, fast and lazy (once they are tired, just like our kids!)

Here is the kicker, of course, try as we might to get a dog here in time for Christmas and to maximize the socialization time with the family, we can't get it here likely for a while because of the cold snap we are having in Salt Lake. Puppies can't travel if it is below 35 degrees Fahrenheit. So I thought for sure when I told them this they would crack and the jig would be up for them, of course now at this point I am loving the darling little puppies that we keep seeing in all the photos the breeder has shown us! No break in ranks, and Mom and Dad are just as hooked, they succeeded! We are adding a sweet little guy to our family this winter, and can't wait to have him here as soon as possible!

We do have to pass a home inspection, the kids have been puppy proofing like mad. The cats of course will have an adjustment period, but will be fine and the snow will be a wonderland to a puppy who is coming from Texas!

So now, I need some help.

The puppies are all named after spells from the Harry Potter books. His registered name is quite cool, "Gryffyn’s Expecto Patronum", but he will need a "family" name. We are thinking we want to stay in the Potter line of names, but would love some input!

So in the comments will you leave a suggestion so we can have a little help?

We are very happy that we will have new member in our family, and it is the perfect gift for all of us this season!

Hope all of you are enjoying the gifts of the season as well!

B-

Method Playground challenge #8

So remember a few days ago I told you about Layle, the guest host at the Method Playground blog, and her technique challenge was to stamp on chipboard? It has been a very inspiring challenge for me! I have so much chipboard, and for the same reasons she states, I don't use enough of it. I will be doing this technique again, a lot!

She is doing a great thing at her blog, if you link to her blog the link you left at the Method Playground blog, she will be picking someone randomly for some chipboard as another RAK on top of the one she is already giving away at the Method Playground, cool huh!!!!

So link it up kids!

This is the layout that I made for the challenge. I wanted to add a lot more stuff, but common sense kicked in and I decided to let the super cute paper and the chipboard do the talking. (sometimes less is more).

I also want to share how fortunate I feel to have the friends that I do. So many wonderful people have come into my life through this hobby! Truly friends are a gift, and I feel very gifted, LOL!

To each and every one of you that I have been blessed to know, thank you from the very bottom of my heart! I hope you all have wonderful holidays!

B-

Skiing With Tyler

We had such a blast today!

He is such a great kid, and man can he rip! I have to admit that it was hard to keep up with him at times! The mountain was almost empty and the snow (although not a lot of it) was in great shape, a wonderful combination for the first day back on the snow in a year.

He was blown away at how many of the other ski instructors I knew. I guess that happens after working at a place for almost ten years, LOL! It was kinda cool skiing as his guest, instead of the other way around, and he was so proud that he could treat me to a day together! I tell ya, he is a great kid!

Here is a sneak peek of the kit that is releasing tomorrow at PcLayers digital scrapbooking. It is called Fancy Free and is by Kristy Valshan. Laurel was modeling her birthday gifts, and it is so funny to call her a "glam girl" because she would be a complete label hound if we had more money to spend on her!

Me too!

B-

A few holiday cards

Holiday cards are always tough for me, I want something that expresses what our family is about, but I also needto keep in mind that I have to make quite a few, so keeping them a little simpler makes the task less daunting.

So when Christina gave me some of her new holiday stamps, I knew my problem had been solved! I just love the quality of her stamps, the deep etched red rubber gives such a beautiful impression and they are so easy to use that it makes it even easier! Of course I had to use the Scenic Route Roxbury line to make the rest of the card, that paper is so gorgeous and looks amazing with everything! I love how the tree one turned out, but I think I will be making the snowman, more of what our family is about! What do you think? I would love to hear opinions!

Also tomorrow is a new Method Playground challenge, and we have a wonderful guest host!

The FAB Layle Koncar, you know, THE Layle of Scenic Route amazingness will be giving a great challenge and providing a RAK worthy of some serious effort! So stop by the MP blog to see what is up! Check out her blog, she has a story that gave me the goosebumps and some tears.

Last night was a movie night, we all watched Pirates 3 together and had chicken curry, a wonderful night! I am so glad that my teens love to spend time with us on the weekends instead of being out! We are so blessed!

B-

If I Had a Million Dollars

Just a quick post on a Saturday evening. A layout I did this week, a little scraplift of Marci Lambert to help her celebrate her birthday.

It has been a slow Saturday, not much going on except a little holiday prep (my card supplies are staring me down) and some time with the family.

The ground is covered in snow, our house is warm and snuggly and it seems like the perfect evening for a lazy day is hot cocoa and a holiday movie.

Hope everyone has a nice, slow, lazy weekend too, one that lets you enjoy the beauty of the season!

B-

Priorities

Kind of tired today, and feeling pretty selfish, ever get that way? Where you are a little overwhelmed, running on not enough sleep and too much caffeine? That is me for the last two months. I come by the genetics of over doing very honestly though, and I am sure that more than one of my kids will end up this way too! See the little older gentleman in the middle of this picture? He is my only living grandparent, and he is amazing! He has always been the get it done guy and I think he is still around because there are still things for him to do that he wants to get done! I think that I get these traits from him and if I can achieve half of the incredible things that he has, I will feel fulfilled!

So this time of year is a little tough for me with wanting to do to much with not enough time or resources. It is always a good lesson for me to keep my priorities straight. Remember what is important. Will it be the darling wreath on the front door or the handmade cards that will strengthen my relationship with my children and our love for each other? I don't think so, I really believe that it will be the quality of time that we spend with each other building relationships that will last through eternity. That is my biggest priority.
So when I came across this old picture that I hadn't scrapped (it doesn't even have Carter in it!) I was reminded of how important it is to keep what matters most as a priority, the rest will fall away with little or no long term consequence.
I think this is the reason that we have Jesus as our Savior. We need to do the best we can, with what we have, and he will do the rest.
Happy Birthday Christ!
B-

Things you might never forget...

I have a lot of things that I have experienced in my life because I tend to be an adventurous kind of person. Ran in a couple of marathons, skied incredible terrain, dropped off cornices and through thick forests. But none of it scared me quite as much as what I saw at the gym yesterday with Teresa. You know how you have those friends who can talk you into almost anything? I am usually that person to everyone else, but today Teresa was that to me. I had been at the gym doing the recumbant bike (good for my grumpy knees) and when she got there we did the elliptical and treadmill for another 40 minutes. I was tired and really sweaty and weak in the head! She has had a cold for a few days and likes to go into the steamroom to get her lungs and sinuses cleaned out. This is so NOT my kind of thing, I don't like public pools either, grosses me out. She just wanted to sit for a few minutes and swore up one side and down the other that no one EVER goes in there and it wouldn't be weird. So I went in.


We sat and relaxed and got to stewing and we were just about ready to get out when outside of the room in front of the glass door an older, softer, woman dropped her towel to the floor, bent over (butt to us!) and picked something up and put it on her pile of things, and then proceeded in her BUCK NAKEDNESS to open the door to join us in the steamroom. Teresa and I looked at each other with wide eyes, and I thought I was going to start giggling then and there! I couldn't get out of there fast enough!


Now don't get me wrong, I admire someone who has no body consciousness, I just don't want to see that kind of confidence in person, KWIM? Be confident at home with your drapes closed. The human body is beautiful in so many ways, but in that way, NOT SO MUCH!


Steamroom naked not pretty.

I do have to say though that I am lucky to have a friend that I can have so much fun with! Teresa is such a fun person, and she is always upbeat and so positive! Also she is willing to give it to me straight, and you need friends like that!

So while I will NEVER forget that moment in the steamroom (still scrubbing my eyes!) I will also never forget how funny it was to us and how I am grateful to have a friend that fun to share it with!

B-

2008 PcLayers Calender Freebie!!!!

The whole design team at PcLayers has gotten together to give everyone a wonderful holiday gift!
Each designer has a free dowload on their blog and all you have to do is visit, download and print to make a beautiful 2008 desk calender that uses a cd case to display the months.

Here is the month of April, of course my picture won't be in it. When you open the file all you have to do is drop in your selected picture for that month in your image editing program, and print!

April dowload link

After you get done downloading my april freebie, go to Bren Boone's blog to get the May kit!

Here is the July download link

After you have gotten the July kit downloaded then you are off to see what Aly has for you! Celeste is hosting Aly's link so don't be surprised when you land there!!!

Also, Erin is doing a fridge calendar, all 12 months! her blog is: http://www.erinboberin.com/blog/

And if you are having a hard time jumping around, or if a link somewhere isn't working for you , I have included the links below for you!

Happy Holidays!

B-


January (jennifer kit); Lori (http://lorigardner.typepad.com/)

February (tiny dancer kit); Indah (http://inskidahv.wordpress.com/)

March (amelie kit); Natalie ( http://www.seejanescrapbook.blogspot.com)

April (blossom kit); Becky ( http://lifeasathreeleggeddog.blogspot.com/)

May (florabella kit); Bren ( http://brentboone.typepad.com )

June Rachel ( http://lostintheattic.typepad.com)

July(Tea Time kit) Becky ( http://lifeasathreeleggeddog.blogspot.com/)

August (reef kit); Aly's page, hosted on celeste's blog ( http://celesterockwood-jones.typepad.com)

September (sushi kit); Kayla ( http://thelegacylady.typepad.com/)

October (jack kit); celeste ( http://celesterockwood-jones.typepad.com)

November (Arbor Vine kit); April ( http://www.aprilanderton.com/blog)

December (sugar cookie kit); Natalie ( http://www.seejanescrapbook.blogspot.com)

New Hair Do

Okay here is a picture of the new cut...

Untouched up, wrinkles, blemishes and all...

this is me and my new do. It is easily 6 inches shorter and she cut a lot of layers in, making it feel very light and loose, love it.

Erin, your observational powers are amazing!

You totally figured out the changes! For those who are not sure what they were, I added the accordion buttons, an extra snowflake on the center and the font is different, I used the Maya Road Philadelphia alpha, and it is easier to read in my opinion.

Also have another project to share, Scenic Route has such a fun and whimsical Holiday line these year, so I made a folder and decorated it in this line, so cute and oh so very useful!

I will use the cards for some storytelling and stick pictures on the other side, and a bunch of extra pictures can go right into the pockets!

Cool right?

It is snowing again today, started late yesterday afternoon and hasn't let up, so we have about another 9 or 10 inches again. The good news is that this last week was pretty warm so the previous storm had melted off before this one got here, so it isn't stacked up!

Our cute little niece got baptised today, she looked so beautiful! It was a nice way to spend the morning with our family!

Also, Dave and I just got back from gettin gour tree and it is in the garage letting all the snow melt off of it from the tree lot. It is a noble fir, and smells like heaven! We will spend the evening with the kids getting the lights and decorations on. I think that is the best part of having the tree is the time we spend getting it put together as a family! Of course it nevers looks decorator perfect, but that is okay, it is still just as beautiful to me!

B-

Glisten Garland

This is a project that I had made that a few people had asked for more information about. The garland says "glisten" and the paper is from the My Mind's Eye Frost collection. I made a couple of changes, lets see if you can tell what they are...

I really love papercrafting, I have some other fun things that I have been working on that I will post pictures of later, they need some finishing touches!

Also, I forgot to share that I got a lot of my hair cut-off this week! Kind of a big change for me, I have had long hair for quite a while now and it was time for a change! I will get Dave to take a picture of it when it isn't quite so overcast, the lighting has been terrible! It was really hard to get a decent picture of the garland, and if it isn't decent looking please tell me so I can take these pics down until I can get some better ones! I don't want to embarass myself more than usual, LOL!
Teresa and I have been working out all week, and today was really hard, 65 minutes of cardio! It is so nice to go with someone that you enjoy spending time with, it just flies and makes it fun instead of torture! Thanks T!

Well, lots to do and not nearly enough time to do it!

B-

New 7 Gypsies Release At PcLayers!!!

I really love 7 Gypsies products, and so everytime a new one is released digitally at PcLayers, it just makes me so very happy! This is the Sushi kit, and it is gorgeous! Wonderful papers, great brushes and loads of the goodies that makes 7 Gypsies so unique!
Chloe and I went shopping for her birthday tonight, and I am so proud of her! She is such a smart shopper! She went through the sale racks and found two pairs of pants, two darling tops and a really cute jacket for $87.00! (And she still has money left to spend on shoes!) She could have used all of her money on just a couple of things, but she really wanted to make the most of what she had, and she did great!
I have to admit that I am a little behind on my Christmas preparations (read as a lot!) I am starting to feel a little stress, but I am not going to deal with it until later this week...


Oh wait, it is later this week, LOL!
I am going to try and find a tree tomorrow, we like to get live ones so we don't start to soon so that we have tinder by the 21st. And get it put up in the evening so that the kids can spend the evening decorating and watching a movie or two!
I hope everyone else is ahead of the curve instead of behind it like me, and enjoying the holiday season!
B-

So where is the rest of the Mtn?

We are a family of skiers. I was a fully certified instructor at Deer Valley for about 10 years. The kids spent every Saturday of the winter during that time cruising the runs at that huge resort. They are a little spoiled when it comes to their concept of what a mountain experience should be like.

So a couple of years ago we took them to the mountain that I grew up skiing at in southern Oregon so that they could see what a typical hometown mountain is like. It is very small and not very swanky, but they had just received a good storm that had left a wonderful layer of fresh snow to play in! I spent the day with my friends kids teaching them some skills and hanging out on some of the easier runs of the mountain just cruising my old ski turf. Tyler took off by himself and decided to see how quickly he could do all the runs. He was back within two hours (and that was riding those old two seater chairs too, LOL) and had seen it all. I asked him how it was, and he said it was fine, but where was the rest of the mountain in a teasing way. It really was a great way for him to experience something new, but also to appreciate the mountain that he had available to him and the opportunities that it provided to him. He even took a job as an Instructor Assistant the following season at Deer Valley.

I made this layout for the Method Playground challenge this week which was to use a mask. He loves it, and it really keeps a fun memory for him!

B-

Today is Chloe's 15th birthday!

She spent the whole weekend with her girl cousins celebrating! Ellie's and Olivia's birthday's are the 29th and 30th of November, so it is one big week of celebrating! Chloe went down for Ellie's party on Friday and stayed for Olivia's party on Saturday and then their Grandmother Hakes took all the girls out for a "Girls Night" to see the movie Enchanted. We missed her so much, but she had such a great time!

Did I mention that it snowed here yesterday? Yup, this is a picture of Tyler out on the back deck and that is about 10" of Utah fresh on the table. Not fun to shovel anyway, but when there is this much of it, it is really hard to find a place to stack it! That face he is giving me is the one that is about him not really wanting his picture taken and not really wanting to shovel. Hard to decide what to be grumpier about!

There will be a new Method Playground challenge tomorrow, it was a great technique, and one that really challenged me! I will have pics of my project to share tomorrow!

Also the December gallery is up at Creating Inspirations and there are tons of wonderful project ideas, some that I will be using myself!

And as if that isn't enough, there will be a blog scavenger hunt on Wednesday from the design team at PcLayers for something that makes a great gift that is super easy to create! Can't wait to share more about that!

Anyway, a very fun weekend and lots more to come this week!

Happy Birthday Chloe!

B-