Weekly Gratitude...

This last week was full of so many things... starting my business... the last days of summer fun, before school started... last minute school shopping... and the first day of school!!! It's been a very very very full week! Because of it's craziness, I did accomplished some things and not others. So when it came time to think about what I'm grateful for this last week... I had along list. There were so many things it was hard to choose which one thing I am the most grateful for... but out of everything I had to choose Rainee's First Grade Class/Teacher.

If you've been reading my blog for any amount of time... many of you know what a difficult time Rainee had at the beginning of school last year. It was not the way Kindergarten was suppose to be... she came home crying most days... and every morning it was a struggle to get her to get going, because she just didn't want to be there... she hated school! Then after month's her struggling and me constantly in prayer about what to do... I made the decision to change her out of one class and into another. And the difference was noticeable the first day... she started to flourish...she didn't want the day to end... she couldn't wait for the next day to go back... she loved school!! She enjoyed EVERYTHING about THIS Kindergarten teacher and class... and that made my heart happy! But it also made me realize I wasn't going to let her go through that struggle again...

I wasn't taking any chances... because I believe we, as parents, are our children's advocate... we are responsible for helping they grow, learn and be happy in their life ahead... plus, we know our child best. So because of my strong conviction, I knew I needed to be a part of who she would have for a teacher. I started asking around... I talked to teacher and mom friends.... then before school let out, I made my written request to the principal... after which I started praying every day Rainee would be with a teacher who would inspire her and not one who would bring her down!!!

When we went to school on Tuesday to find out who her teacher was I can't begin to tell you the relief that washed over me when I saw she was in Mrs. Clark's class. I know this is the class and teacher for her! It's only been 3 days of school, but she already loves her class... and her teacher. I am so happy and grateful, because I know this year will be good... not just good... GREAT!!! I am so grateful... to the principal for taking the time to read my letter and allowing me to be the advocate for my daughter's education. I am so very grateful.

It's Just Around The Corner....

Don't forget... If you haven't made your comment for the EverydayFrame.... be sure to because I'll be picking the winner on Sunday Night... yeah... I'm so excited!!!

Thanks so much for sharing this with me!!!

First Grade... First Day...

WOW! WOW! WOW! I'm still reeling over yesterday and how summer just seemed to fly by... and it's over... and Rainee started First Grade yesterday!!! I can't believe it... Where did the last 6 years go??? Time goes by way too fast!!! Anyway... I wanted to share with you Rainee's first day of First Grade... plus my little project for her.

Her first day... well, she did great! Got up early without a problem... and instead of our traditional chocolate chip pancakes... she just wanted cereal... ummmmmmm what's that?? She always wants chocolate chip pancakes... so we ate chocolate Cherrios instead. After breakfast she got ready... she was so excited to wear her new outfit!!! She couldn't wait to for everyone to see guitar tie, hat and biker jacket!... She looked adorable!!!

When we got to school, she was fine... I was fine. We were able to see all her friends... it was all good. Her teacher came out, gave the kids some instructions on finding their desks... and all us parents hovered at the door... then she invited us in... I was nice to be able to get a couple of pictures of Rainee sitting at her new desk... she looked so cute and so happy.... we were both doing fine.... until... it the time came to say good-bye... Rainee got teary-eyed!! And I lost it... I just couldn't believe my little girl was going to be in school ALL DAY!!! Mrs. Clark, had us leave... then, both of our days began... without the other. Tell me I wasn't sad.

After school... we made our traditional ColdStone ice cream run... cotton candy ice cream with m&m's... one of her favorites! All in all it was a good first day... for her... I knew she would be fine... and me, well... I filled my day, but it wasn't the same without my sweet little buddy right beside me.

Okay... on to my little project...

When Rainee started Pre-school... on her first day, I made her a little envelope and put family photos in. It was my way of letting her know I was with her... something she could have, something that would let her know we were with her all day... just in case she got lonely. For Kindergarten... I made another little envelope as a reminder of how very much she is loved.... especially on hard days. I know she pulled them out every once in a while... because we would talk about it.... she would tell me how it comforted her.... and made everything okay!

So this year for her first day of First Grade... instead of making an envelope, I decided to make a mini book. Something simple... with just a few pages... it didn't take any time to do... but I knew it would be something she could hold on to in difficult moments at school.

When I gave it to her... she was so excited to have new photos to take to school... then it hit her... she was going to school... and she started to cry. I know it may just sit in her backpack all day long... but I also know there will be days, when she needs reminding... it's all okay... you'll be home soon... and mostly to know she is loved. I love how it turned out... I don't do a whole lot of mini books... but I was happy with it and so was Rainee.

Well, I think that's it for today... but before I go, I did want to thank you all for your lovely comments and for your support with my business.... my heart is overwhelmed with thankfulness... thank you!! Have a lovely lovely day!

Exciting News... And GIVEAWAY....

To launch my new website EverydayScrapbook.com and our new product... EverydayFrames...

I'm having a...

I'd like to share a little background about this new business venture for EverydayScrapbook.com. Over the last several months I've been working on a new scrapbook idea.... EverydayFrames!!! It started when I lost my job and knew I wanted to be a stay-at-home-mom and to some how work from home. After realizing my dream and I started praying... and praying... when I woke up in the middle of the night with this great idea for a scrapbook frame. I told my husband about it, and this new venture began... my husband took me shopping for wood working tools and cleared out some, very precious, garage space for me to work. Any extra time I had has been spent working out the kinks in my prototype. There were several times I wanted to quit and give up... but I knew if I wanted to work from home and be there for my daughter... this was it... this was my answer to prayer. So today I am so happy to say, I am launching our new product... EverydayFrames over at www.EverydayScrapbook.com!

And I would like to share my excitement with you as I launch this new business venture... so I'm having a GIVEAWAY for all of you!!!! We have 3 GIVEAWAYS for you...

GIVEAWAY #1: One person will receive one of our unique signature EverydayFrames. These are set apart from the ‘run-of-the-mill’ scrapbook frames, it allows you to change your creative display in a snap without all the regular hassles of traditional scrapbook frames. Once your creative image is put in a page protector you can slide it in and out easily. Our frames are perfect for traditional, hybrid and digital scrapbook pages. EverydayFrames can be displayed on a wall, an easel or rest easily on any flat surface. One or multiples frames add a new element of décor to any room in your home, studio or office. Go check out our website at www.EverydayScrapbook.com for more details on our unique EverydayFrames.

GIVEAWAY #2: One person will receive these Fashion Sense felt shapes by Fancy Pants. They add dimension, texture and color to your scrapbook pages. You'll have fun using these for the fall season... Harvest Felt Shapes... and the Christmas/Winter with Tis The Season Felt Shapes.



GIVEAWAY#3: One person will receive 4 Creative Imaginations Bare Elements MiniBooks. The possibilities are endless to be creative with the Bare Elements MIniBooks.

Ready to enter?

TO ENTER: Checkout our website www.EverydayScrapook.com, then leave me a comment HERE, telling me what think about our EverydayFrames. And make sure to checkout the video... to see how this frames works!

EXTRA ENTRIES: (make sure you leave a separate comment for each).

• 1 Entry: Follow my blog and leave a comment letting me know. (Already a follower? Just leave a comment)
• 1 Entry: Blog about this giveaway and leave a link in a comment.
• 1 Entry: Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link in a comment. You can tweet once per day and each tweet will count as another entry. Remember to leave a separate comment for each tweet.
• 1 Entry: Feature our Giveaway on your blog and leave the link in a comment.
• 1 Entry: Feature my website on your blog and leave the link in a comment.
• 1 Entry: Become a fan on Facebook... EverydayScrapbook and leave a comment here or on the fan page.

This giveaway will end at midnight Pacific Time on Sunday, August 15. The winners will be chosen by random.org on August 16. The winner will be announced here. This contest is only available to the Continental US. Be sure you leave a separate comment for each entry. The more entries you post, the more chances you have to win!

My Backseat Buddy...

Ever since Rainee was born I would adjust my rear view mirrors and watch her.... calm her... and talk to her. This last year in Kindergarten I would again I would pull down the mirror on our way to school and see her there...... smiling... happy... excited... and realized these days are passing by way too fast. So on this particular day... I made a point to stop everything for this photo. I wanted to make sure I had this photo to look back on... to remember our time together.... My backseat buddy... I love every minute with her... I love laughing... praying... singing... and watching her sleep from my rear view mirror. These times won't last long.... but I treasure every moment... I love going everywhere and anywhere with my backseat buddy!!! I love you, Rainee!!!

Weekly Graditude...

It's not any worse. Steve is always soooooooooo careful when he's riding this motorcycle... and I'm grateful he is never goes riding when there is heavy traffic. So it came as a bit of a shock when he came home one day last week with a twisted ankle.

He was turning the bike around and the front wheel hit some mud and the bike fell... yes on top of him. The bike was okay... and so was he except he couldn't get his foot out from under it. So he had to pull it out... that is when he twisted his ankle. Once home from his ride... he was good... everything was fine... we iced it and he relaxed with it up. But the next morning... it wasn't so good. I kept telling him he should go to the doctor... but like a tough guy... he declined, so Rainee and I went off doing our thing... then we get this call... "I think I need to go to the emergency room... it's worse." We came come, took him to the emergency room and 2 hours later... he walks out with his foot in a splint and crutches... (as Rainee says... crunches).... He had a severe sprain, and would need to be off work for at least 5-6 days.

Rainee and I have been trying to take care of him but... Mr. Grumpy-Pants.... who doesn't want to be on crutches... who doesn't want to sit with his foot up... who doesn't want to put ice on his ankle... who doesn't want to stay home an relax... BUT he does want to do anything and everything as long as he's not at home with his foot up... has been giving us a hard time. I had to revert to desperate measures and hide the car keys... just so he wouldn't go off and go somewhere... ugh... men why do they have to be so difficult when we're trying to do the right thing for them??? Don't understand that!!!

Since Mr. Grumpy-Pants can't go anywhere... he has had us going like energizer bunnies... getting him anything his heart desires... ice cream... cheese cake... bacon-pancake-breakfasts... oh-I-don't-want-that-for-lunch-could-you-make-this!!! I think, Rainee and I have done a great job taking care of Mr. Grumpy-Pants... we're exhausted... but also very very very grateful. Grateful his foot isn't broken. Grateful he'll be good as new in a few days. Grateful it was only his ankle... Grateful knowing it could have been much much worse. We love you... Mr. Grumpy-Pants... and we're happy to take care of you and very grateful you're okay. Truly grateful.

What's Your Favorite...

Band? This is our new challenge over at TAAFOMFT (These are a few of my favorite things)... and Me? Well, I love love love this favorite challenge.... From the first moment I heard U2.... I was in love. I have a ton of different music in my iPod... but U2 is my staple!! I had such fun doing this layout... Being a graphic designer you'd think I'd be a digital scrapper or even a hybrid... but just I love being crafty and doing things with my hands I love getting glue on my hands so I'm a traditional scrapper... But that doesn't mean every once in a while something comes along and I HAVE TO - HAVE TO - HAVE TO do a bit of digital scrapping... and this challenge was one of those times I just had to go digital!!! The heart on this layout is filled with U2 pics... 150 U2 pics and there is no way I could have done this with out this super cool application called Shape Collage... with this application you can make ANY shape you want with as many photos as you want... it's a blast!!! If you haven't heard of it... you HAVE TO check it out... even if you don't do digital scrapping all the time like me... it's something fun to have. It's something you can incorporate with traditional scrapping or card making.... Oh and did I mention they have a FREE download...

Anyway... go checkout what what the TAAFOMFT DT ladies made for their favorite bands... they are so fab!!! For this challenge Gauche Alchemy is our sponsor so you're going to want to see what treats they have in store for this challenge... yummy!!! Don't forget you don't have to make a just a scrapbook layout... you can make a card or a project to show off your favorite band.... I can't wait to see what you come up with!!!!

Wicked Project...

As promised, here is the other Creative Imaginations CHA project I had opportunity to do...

I think the Creative Imaginations artist Marah Johnson has done it again with her new collection Wicked! I loved playing with this collection. For me, it's a must have... you can go check out the full line on the Creative Imaginations Blog.... it's one to get for this Halloween!!!

I've always wanted, but never really had the occasion to do a Bare Elements Wine Containers... so this project gave me that chance... and boy did I have fun!!!! I also was able to really take the opportunity to use CI's Luminarte... this something I've played around with, but only used it here and there. And wow wow wow now.... do I love love love this stuff... I had such a blast using it with this Wicked Collection!!!

Along with the BE Wine Container, I also did a wine bottle.... just for fun!!!! I made a new label for the from and back using this very Wicked Collection... I added a little craziness to the top, by wrapping some fishing wire around - like a web - and then placing one of those seriously charming little spiders to the end of... I think it adds a wonderful little Wicked touch to this bottle!!!

Well, that's it for my CHA project for this time... hope you enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed doing them... have a really lovely day!

Weekly Gratitude...

The Library. I love reading and have tried to instill that love in Rainee. The joy you get out of using your imagination... is wonderful. I feel lucky to have several libraries fairly close by and each with a story time and a craft every week. But this summer's schedule has only permitted us to go to the new library, which is about 5 minutes away. I love going in and seeing all the new books sitting on the selves... and watching Rainee's face get all excited over books she's found. It's been a great place to rest and recoup from a hot summer day. As soon as we get in, we grab several books, find a couch to sit down on and then we start to peruse the books that caught our eye. I love our library time together and I love watching her eyes light up when she's found a book she has to take home. Our library is a good friend to both Rainee and I. I'm grateful to be able to share it with her... and grateful to see her joy for reading blossom. It really is a lovely place to spend together.

Beach Day & Berry Cute...

We decided to go to the beach this week... and get away from the heat... well... it seems we went from one extreme to another... it was freezzzzzzzzzzzzing... it was okay when we got there and it looked as though the sun would break through... but it never did and it just got colder and colder... but Rainee was wanting to make her traditional sandcastle with mommy... and we did... but I got stung by something and had to stop... She had to rebuild several times... because it kept getting destroyed by the waves... but she didn't care... she was in it ... and as you can see she was REALLY in it.... we had the best day... even if mommy was freezing and got stung...



































This last week for whatever reason... Rainee felt I needed protecting from daddy... Steve and I were bantering... as we often do... and all of a sudden who should appear but... PANTY-GIRL..... to the rescue!!!! It was so funny... here she is all dressed up in panties... I couldn't stop laughing... it was killer-funny!!!!

















My lovely niece, Autumn at AutumnBouquet... gave me a "Berry Cute Blog Award"... she is such a sweetheart... I love her very much!!! Thank you, Autumn!!!

Recently I received another award... so this time I'm going to be a little rebel and just answer a couple of the questions then send it along to my blogging friends... here are the rules I'm suppose to follow...

#1 Put the image of the award within your blog post.
#2 Put down answers to the following questions.
(for the full list of question see AutumnBouquet) :)
#3 When you answer the questions, add one question to the list. Didn't happen :(
#4 Award as many people as you wish!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
#1 Do you like to wear hats? Yes, but not as much as I use to.
#4 Blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries? Raspberries.
#6 Favorite color? Red.
#9 Hearts or flowers? Both.
#11 What are your favorite hobbies? Scrapbooking
#12 Do you prefer dresses or pants? Dresses, although I always seem to be wearing pants.

And I'm sending this off to...

Life With The Tucker Wolek Clan...One Scrappy Blog...September Tea... Lilac & Luprines... One Gals Trash... Jencropable ... Scrapbook Abundance...Positively Bekka...Blessed...Glimpse of my daily life...(diva)logue...Images & Words...Inspiration Everywhere...Something Unique...ge de papel...RedOakLines...Creative Mischief...Mj's Moderation...Just RiFi...Jill's Life Adventure...ArtMyWay...Jaylynn Scraps...

Have a lovely weekend... enjoy every moment!!!

My First Day... & A Freebie...

I just love this photo of Rainee as we were walking to school on her first day of Kindergarten. She has the most excited smile... I love it!!! It's just too adorable!!!

I don't know about you, but I love Crayons... they make me smile & remind me so much of school days... I've been wanting to use them for awhile... but I couldn't figure out the perfect way to use them, until now. Granted, I did have to figure out how to glue them down... because they made the page sooooo heavy... but I love love love the effect!!! I splattered ink on the background paper & used Creative Imaginations Growing Up collection.... I love love love that line... it has so many fun papers & stickers for K-6grade it's great!!!

Now for a little freebie... the 'report card'.... this is something I made & I love how it turned out... so would like to share it with you... if you'd like a copy to print... click here to download & enjoy!

Have a delightful Wednesday!!!

Sketchy Thursday...

The last few weeks I've been trying to get a Sketchy Thursdays sketch done... and it just hasn't happened... BUT it actually did this weekend... Yeah!! I've been pulling out photos I still haven't scrapped and there's a ton! I don't know about you but what is coming out of my camera and what is coming out of me scrapping them... don't seem to be in sink... so even though I'm behind... at least I'm getting them done... living life... and making more memories... isn't that what's important??? At least I'm trying... right???

The sketch this week is a multi photo layout and did mine with unscrapped photos from Rainee's first day of Kindergarten! On this particular day all 3 of us went to school together... it was so nice being able to share her first day as a family. As I was doing my layout I brought out my journaling notes from that day... and remembered how brave and excited she was... she was all smiles... but, when the time came for parents to leave... and the kids to go inside... there was for one split second this look on her face of... oh my gosh you're leaving... but as quick as it had come it was gone once she was in line. And she bravely went inside. Now, as for me... I wasn't so brave as I watched her go in... and I cried all the way home. I knew it was going to change everything in our lives... it's the beginning of letting go... and it's hard. BUT I realized that just like all the other firsts which have come and gone in her life up until now... there would be a multitude more to come... and I would be right there with her... cheering her on with happiness and excitement... but not, of course, without a few tears...

Anyways... here's my version of the sketch with my brave little Kindergartner... You have until 10 p.m. (EST) on Wed., July 21 to play along at Sketchy Thursdays. The prize this week is sponsored by Digi Doodle Shop. I'll see you tomorrow with another first day layout I'm finishing up... until then... have a lovely summer day!!!