New Layouts and Books and Scrapbook Goodies and a RAK!!

The sun is finally shining today and even though it is chilly - it's not too bad! A little warmer (30 degrees) and it would be the most wonderful day!! My typing is getting better - as I have better control over my fine motor skills - the fingers get tired very quickly though. So along with the caps in my post - there will probably be several typos!! :P

Mandi finally decided on a prom dress - holy cow - the $$$$ - but I guess you only go to prom once and to the girls it is a huge deal, and it makes her happy, and she is paying for most of it LOL!! Not that is funny, but she is learning very fast the value of money. She has the one in the middle - it is aqua in color and is gorgeous!! The "poofy" styles are back in - I haven't seen them since we (meaning my age) went to high school - and even then - I didn't have a "poofy" gown. There are going to have to be a few alterations in the hem because she is so darn tiny. I really like that a lot of the dresses now have lace up backs, like this one. Not so many alterations have to be done on the sides then because you can adjust the lacing.

I went shopping the other day and bought tons of new stamps. Generally I am not a stamper, but I have seen so may gorgeous cards online lately, that I couldn't help myself. I have so much as far as scraps of paper is concerned and I hate to toss it - so I think cards would be good!! And the fact that there was a really GOOD sale at the store that I went to helped LOL! I also bought a new embossing folder for my Cuttlebug - I love this machine and have since gotten rid of my hand squeeze quickutz, the sidekick and the big red sizzix machine. I don't think I have had an easier die cut machine with more possibilities than the Cuttlebug.

These 2 sets are my FAVORITE!! Of course the cupcakes would be LOL! but I love the birds and owl on the other set - I also just ordered some stamps from Verve Visuals. I just had to have it after I saw Amber's cards that she made with it.

http://stampingscrapbooker.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/03/scrapnextras-da.html
Someday, I promise I will learn how to make the link just say one word LOL!

I have not made may cards, but have been so inspired by Amber's blog and her cards and then to blog surf through hers - oh my!!! Those girls are TALENTED!

NEW LAYOUTS

I BOUGHT NOTHING NEW FOR THESE!!

I am sort of on a mini spending freeze as far as scrapbook supplies are concerned. I did a quick inventory of my office that you can hardly walk into and decided that I have enough papers and "STUFF". So now I am limiting myself to stamps and cuttlebug products. Oh and some of the new quickutz revolution die cuts BUT those are things that I will use over and over and over again!

BEAUTIFUL SARAH

BOYS AND THEIR TOYS

SUMMER SASSY SARAH

PUPPY LOVE

SPIRIT

PRACTICE

BASKETBALL SUPERSTAR

The girls and I also had some great crafting time together over Easter. We altered some frap bottles for gifts. Sarah didn't get to make any because she was working and homework, but I guess I could just drink some more so she can have some bottles to work with LOL!!

The first bottle with is done with Easter egg fabric appliques and bling! This one was for Mary. The second bottle with the blue eggs was for Pam. The bottles that Allie made are in the 3rd picture - how cute are those - the flowered bottle was for me :) and the superman was for DH (everyone calls him Super Dave so we "collect" superman stuff for him lol! - and notice the CRAB on top of his LOL!!!!!). The last picture of the bottle is on that I made for Linda (with the bunnies) and the one with flowers - Mandi made for her boyfriend's Mom. She gave it to her on Easter Sunday as a hostess thank you. They had tons of family over the guys started calling her Mini Martha LOL! So I do have some more bottles in works - some have Charlie Bears going in to them (doggy treats) and one has a ring of monkeys on it, and you never know where they may end up - my house - your house - the neighbors house LOL!! So if you leave a comment - make sure you tell me your favorite candy!

FAVORITE READS

And of course I have been reading as well!! When don't I??!! I can't wait for this one - The Hollow by Nora Roberts. It is the 2nd book of the Signs of Seen Trilogy and is due out on May 6th!! You gotta read it!!


And Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyers is coming out on August 2nd! This is the 4th in the Twilight series - There is Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and now Breaking Dawn. Now I know that typically you would think that this is a teenage/young adult series. It really is not though. The characters are younger - but I think that the series are suitable for ALL ages to read. I let my 12 year old read them, as well as my 14 and 17 year olds. AND ME - but I'm not gonna tell you hold old I am! LOL

Currently, I am reading The Mane Event by Shelly Laurenston - I just started it, but it seems like it will be ok. It is about a Pride of gorgeous shapeshifting lions and about all I know so far is that the "mane" character is a retired Navy Seal and has to shave his head everyday otherwise his mane grows back LOL!! and he is hot for the female detective that is investigating a murder at his sister's house. If I like this one, the next in the series is

This one is dependant on if I like the first one enough to read it. It is different in the fact that it is a Pride of lions - typically, in these types of stories, it is wolves as the shifters.

So if you know me - even semi-well - you know that I am not a big fan of Martha's - not that I don't like what she does or what she makes - it's just that I don't have a lot of time or patience for the projects she does. A lot of her projects and recipes are older-fashioned IMHO and there are just not enough hours in the day -(that is one reason why I don't do flower arranging anymore - not cost effective enough for the time that it takes) BUT when I saw her new COOKIE Book, I was in heaven!!! I had to have this book - it has some of the yummiest cookies ever!!! So as I try new recipes, I will let you know how they are. Oh and although I never watch her show, I did happen to catch a glimpse of it on TV last night AND she was making CUPCAKES - so i watched my first Martha episode last night and then went to her website this morning to find the recipe for these coconut cupcakes she was making and am going to try them this weekend!! cupcakes and coconut - what could be better??!! And she has this video slide show of all her favorite cupcakes and cupcake shops! I am slowly changing my mind about watching Martha - at least for her cupcake week!! Cupcakes and cookies are the one thing that I will spend more than 30 minutes in kitchen for!!!
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3e37788aa306c4df62fc95103373a0a0/?vgnextoid=d5a9080aae2e8110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default

Ok, so I am off to do some spring cleaning. My littlest DD has grown soooo much over the past year that I HAVE to go through her clothes and get rid of. Plus - and I know I am not the only Mom who does this - BUT I still have all my kids toys so we are having a HUGE garage sale this spring - everything is going - none of the girls play with barbies anymore, the boys don't play with any toys so all theirs can go - it will be HUGE!!! Do you all watch the show "CLEAN HOUSE" on the Style network - OMG this is my new favorite show - I LOVE IT!! http://www.mystyle.com/mystyle/shows/cleanhouse/index.jsp If you have not watched this show, please try to catch an episode - they have some really good tips and budget-wise design style!! I love the newer cast - the designer is awesome! So I am doing a "CLEAN HOUSE" on my house - now granted my house does not look anything like the ones on the show (well, except maybe for my office and Al's closet, and the sunroom LOL) but I am taking a lot from the organizer and putting it to use in my home! Maybe I'll post some before and after photos! and maybe not LMAO!! They also have a cool yard sale kit on the site we can download for tips to making some $$$.

Ok, last but not least, since you have read this entire post LOL! I am giving away a RAK. It is almost a year since I have had my blog, and you all have been sharing my stressed and not so stressful times with me, so I am going to thank you by offering a RAK - just leave me a comment and on the 15th - Allie will pick a winner. And don't forget to tell me what kind of candy (that would fit into a bottle) you like just in case you are on the "list" to get one.