the reason...

Ok, so the reason why I haven't blogged... and the reason why I've been busy... and the reason why I haven't scrapped a single page in what seems like I forever:

Yes, you're reading it right... We're expecting a BABY GIRL on April 1st, 2009. We're so excited - an addition to the family AND Jonah's going to be a big brother! :)

Now seriously... I need to start getting my mojo back. Not only do I feel so behind with Jonah's scrapbook, I have a baby girl to scrap about too! Ack!

4 years ago...

Didn't have time to blog on our actual wedding anniversary but we didn't forget...



4 years ago (plus a couple days...) I married my best friend. We've been together for over 13 years now. That's quite some time. Time flies by so quickly, yet when I look back and think about our lives together we've been through so much. And we have a lifetime to go...

We haven't celebrated yet - we actually both worked on Thursday night... We didn't even get each other presents this year (well, that boudoir photo shoot was enough to last me through Christmas! *lol*) Carl didn't get me anything. We didn't exchange cards. And for once, I'm okay with that. I really am.

We may go out to dinner tomorrow to celebrate depending on if my family can watch Jonah... If not, we may, instead go to brunch. We'll see!

hello. remember me?

Yes. I've been terrible. I haven't been here in over 2 months! So crazy. But forgive me, I've been busy with life and the craziness of it all. Jonah had daily swim lessons. My birthday came and went (sorry no RAK this year). And I've just been tired.

But I'll try to update more. Does anyone even still read this?

*lol*

I made a layout a couple months ago... yes, ME. And it was DIGITAL too.



supplies: patterned papers, ribbon, tag, sentiment: "eieio" digital kit (Mindy Terasawa, http://www.designerdigitals.com); swirl brushes: "Skinny Mini Swirlies" (Mindy Terasawa, http://www.designer digitals.com); font: Century Gothic; Milky BW photo action: Mindy Bush (http://mindysphotoactions.blogspot.com)

I hope all of you out there are doing well. I do keep up with your blogs via Google Reader (love that thing!) but I'm always too much in a hurry to comment. Miss you all...

grrr..

I want to change the header for my blog, but I can't figure out the size I need.

Can anyone help me? I seem to be falling a little short. I'll mess with it later.

what a surprise!

I was down in the dumps last Friday as I was leaving the house for work. Jonah was crying his brains out when he saw me leave and I just didn't feel like working 3 nights in a row. Imagine my surprise when I found THIS waiting for me on my doorstep along with a TON of goodies (I have to take a pic to show you. The amount is ridiculous).

Yes, I've been published again. :)

This time 1 digital layout and a mini album. So freaking awesome.

I know I've been terrible with the blogging (and the scrapbooking... Surprisingly, I've been doing well with cardmaking!). It's hard to keep up with an 18 month old who runs all over the place, has daily swimming lessons... and did I mention, runs all over the place?

So, even though I'm not scrapbooking as much as I should, I'd still like to keep this blog open and keep you all (there are still some of you out there, right?) updated every once in a while.

But YAY, I've been published again. I'm super excited.

Hope everyone is having a great summer!

the most awesomest thing ever.

I'm officially addicted to my iPhone.

It sounds so materialistic, I know, but I just can't help it. I really *heart* this thing.

Carl got it for me for Valentine's Day this year and since then I've thought it was 'pretty cool' but now, after downloading the software update, I'm just ADDICTED. So very cool.

And I've recently become addicted to Facebook...and now Twitter - I've had an old account, but I love how it links to Facebook AND I can now update right from my phone.

gotta love it.

So for those friends who miss me or want to see how I'm doing, sign up for a FB account or a Twitter acct and be my friend! :)

Happy 4th of July!

The 7th month of the year... Where has the time gone?

Jonah is taking a well-deserved nap and I had some uninterrupted ME time just like everyone previously suggested. I also was overwhelmed with guilt because I have TONS of unused and unopened Studio Calico kits and tons of scrap supplies that haven't even touched.

It's time to use what I have. :)

AND I've been itching to sit down and scrap for quite a while now...

So in the meanwhile I've been making cards. Forgive me, I sometimes don't get a chance to take a picture or scan each one. I'm guessing my card count for the year is pretty awesome. I'll update it when I get a chance.

Here are a few cards I made a couple weeks ago for Nursing Assistant Appreciation Week:

AND, the fun doesn't stop there, party people. I SCRAPPED. Yes, that's right. I scrapped TWO whole layouts. And I'm posting one that I did a few months ago.

The next 2 layouts were inspired by Ali Edwards' Life Artist book. Love that book. I can read it over and over again...

patterned paper: making memories, paper salon
stickers, pen: american crafts
stamps: ck media, october afternoon
ink: StazOn, ColorBox

I was totally inspired a few months ago to create that layout - Jonah was having a good day and I wanted to document it. It's one of my most favorite recent layouts.

And then yesterday I finished up with this one:



cardstock: bazzill
patterned paper: love elsie, fontwerks, scenic route
foam letters: american crafts
pen: uniball signo

I felt like Ali was speaking to me when she scrapped her Christmas cards. I'm such a packrat and I can't bear to throw letters and cards away. I feel like the senders take so much time to send us their cards, I shouldn't hastily throw them in the garbage. So I took Ali's advice, grabbed the biggest square punch I own (in this case, 1 9/16th, wish I had a 2 inch punch) and went to town. Pretty happy with the result. :)

Ok, and my last layout... I just finished it RIGHT NOW. It's my favorite one. Pretty cheeky, but it was fun and I had fun making it with a Studio Calico kit I had never opened or used. Forgive me, I don't know which month it's from...



cardstock: Bazzill
patterned paper: scenic route, sei
journing block: college press
letter stickers: sassafrass lass
stamp: 7gypsies
bling, chipboard heart: heidi swapp
pen: american crafts

And I have to share the journaling because it cracks me up:

"pics: 9/25/07, journaling: 7/4/08
subject: Just so you know...

Dear Justin Timberlake,
You know, watching you perform in concert for what seems to be like the MILLIONTH time makes me wish for an 'NSYNC reunion...
But then again, watching you perform as a solo artist makes me realize it's not going to happen anytime soon.
Just so you know I know...
Sincerely,
JoAnn Valderama
Your #1 Fan"

I hope that brightened your day, everyone. Happy 4th of July! :)