News & Spring is almost here!

I’ll start with the shocking news…

For those of you who haven’t heard yet, my Dad met someone online, they met and immediately became engaged. They have recently set the date for May 20th to get married. It’s been kind of difficult dealing with this. My sister and I have been trying to be happy for our Dad but it’s still too fast for us. But it’s what he wants, so there’s no changing his mind. She will be visiting here March 18-26th, so that’s when we’ll get to meet her.

Good News…

I finally removed the hangers, bagged, and donated all of my Mom’s clothes. It was 2 huge trash bags plus a bag for her shoes.

Fun news…

I shopped for bunko prizes last week. Then I hosted bunko at my house on Friday. It was a blast! And I got a cute prize (I really wanted to keep all of them)!

On to sweeter news…

My darling Ashley had her 8th birthday over the weekend. I can’t believe how quickly she is growing and changing. She has been wanting secret journals, so she received a couple of those. You know the kind that has a mini key with it? She thinks they are so cool. She also got a Moxie doll (like a Barbie doll but with changeable heads) and an iCarly notebook, but I forgot to buy some batteries, so she hasn’t used it yet. I think you have to use a passcode to get it open, then you can write your notes in it. My sister also found a gift & card that my Mom had bought for Ashley before she died. So, Christy was able to give that to her. It’s a necklace with a charm and inside is a mustard seed with a quote attached that reads, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Ashley was so excited!!! I love the one I got just like it when I was 8 from my Aunt Wendy. I still have it.

Enjoying breakfast (homemade Belgian waffles) with her BFF that spent the night. Playing a little xbox.Eating lunch after the makeover her sister gave her. her bday cake (rainbow chip with rainbow chip frosting) The whole gang! blowing out 8 candles. her Moxie doll. some wall scrapbook kits Ashley with Grandma and Grandpa Stradling              Ashley & me Ashley & Ben

And because Ashley turned 8, she will be getting baptized this Saturday. She is thrilled!

Decluttering news…

Ben & I helped the kids go thru their closets & dressers to gather all the clothes that don’t fit them. We filled 7 trash bags!!! {well 2 or 3 were already filled with baby/toddler clothes just waiting to be donated}. Ben dropped off ALL the clothing for donations yesterday! It really feels good to get all that stuff OUT of the house that we weren’t using. Now, if I can just get the computer room organized. Hmmmm. That’s for another day. LOL

* NEW * March Challenges are posted.

Head on over to the DSO Challenge Blog for some inspiration, plus you earn freebies!

Here's what you get FREE if you play along:

{remember my posting bonuses are coordinating}

FONT Challenge

QUOTE Challenge

HAPPY SPRING and HAPPY SCRAPPING!

Valentine Cards & a FREEBIE

I made these Valentine cards for my kids for school. I will print them and add a little bag with candy for each student and teacher. {just like we did last year} The kids are so excited!

I made these cards using my new kit Sweet Valentine 1 & 2 that is only available as a posting bonus for my DSO Challenges for the month of February.

 

I’m trying to show some L♥VE, so I am giving you BOTH of these Valentine Cards FREE, if you want to use them! Just plop a picture {or anything you want} in the empty space and you’re done!

You can GRAB these HERE!

What kind of Valentine cards do your kids use? Do they make them or use store cards? Do you add candy to them?

Sweet Valentine

Want inspiration for some sweet, lovely or romantic pages or hybrid projects?

Head on over to the DSO Challenge Blog, plus you earn freebies!

Here's what you get FREE if you play along:

{remember my posting bonuses are coordinating & extra big this month}

FONT Challenge

QUOTE Challenge

Go to the DSO Challenge BLOG for all the details! Hope you’ll join in the FUN!

I’m going to use this kit to make my kids’ valentine cards to pass out at school. I’ll be back later to show you what we created!

Forever & After

The DSO designers have collaborated this month to bring you a PICK YOUR BITS Mega!  This means you can choose which parts you want and only pay for those!! You’re not stuck with downloading huge files or parts of the kit you don’t want.

PLEASE NOTE : All of the Feb Collab, titled FOREVER & AFTER can be found in the DSO COLLAB category in the store.

Here is my portion:

Here’s a layout I made using my part {and Jazzy’s Funky Love Lines Wordart}:

This is my brother, Spencer, and his wife, Merrianne. I took this pic when they were visiting at the beginning of January (for my Mom’s funeral). I hope you two don’t mind that I used your pic for this layout.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! {and a Blog Hop freebie}

This has been one heck of a year for me and my family! I hope y’all had a wonderful Christmas and looking forward to what’s to come in 2010.

We had a nice Christmas {even though my Mom was in the hospital}. She came home Monday evening and passed away after only being home 5 hours. We are having services for her this Saturday, Jan 2nd at 1pm. It has been a struggle for me to say “Goodbye” to her because she was my BEST friend! But I know she’s not in any more pain and with her family that passed before her. Thank you to all my amazing family & friends that have sent loving messages to me. I am so grateful. ♥

Ok I don’t want to dwell on the sadness right now because today is the beginning of a New Year and new beginnings!

If you are still finishing scrapping your Christmas pictures, check out my Deck the Halls kit plus all the extras!

Here’s my 2-page layout

Look at these fabulous layouts from the DSO CT:

These layouts were by Kerri (kayjaydo)

 

These were by Karen (bydelstorp) also using Jazzy’s A Christmas Song wordart on the 2nd layout.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! The DSO Gals have been busy making gifties for y’all.

 

So, you probably hopped over from Shannon.

Since you’ve gotten this far, here is my special TREAT for you!

You can grab this HERE

For your next treat, go back to the DSO Blog to see what you’ve missed or hop over to Jazzy!

Since this is a Blog Hop, if you get lost along the way make sure you stop by the DSO Blog for directions! {Plus there may be a surprise for y’all there too!} Please remember that we’re all in different time zones around the world, so some may not post at the exact same time. Thanks!

**Ooooh I almost forgot, ONE LUCKY commenter will win a $25 gift certificate to DSO! Don’t forget to comment on THIS POST {and all the other blogs for more chances} to be entered to WIN!!! The WINNER will be announced Saturday, Jan 2nd on the DSO BLOG!

GOOD LUCK!!!!

New goodies . . .

in the store at DSO this week! You don’t wanna miss these fabulous deals! I think they’re all on sale at the moment!

 Bunny has these these great templates!

KimB has this gorgeous new kit A Fresh Start

Jazzy has an amazing set of wordart that coordinates with Kim’s A Fresh Start

Diana has this beautiful new kit with soft colors 

Charlie has these cool Notepaper Flakes

HAPPY SHOPPING!!!!!

~ For some inspiration, check out these fine designers’ blogs (their names are linked above) or the DSO Gallery! Don’t forget about the DSO Challenge Blog, too! ~

A Little Scrappin

I'm such a bad blogger. Looking at the date of my last post, I guess I have turned into a once-a-month blogger maybe twice. I think of lots of things to post about, but when I get to my computer, either my mind goes blank or I just don't feel like typing it out. LOL

So, to at least post something, I will share a few layouts that I've made this week. It was fun & relaxing to just sit and create a few pages.

I think if you click on the pictures, you can see them bigger {in case you really want to read my journaling}. heee heee

These are all for the October Challenges at DSO
{If you heard DSO was going to close this month, well I have GOOD NEWS because it's going to remain OPEN! YAY}

Grandparents Lunch

Altered Photo Challenge
{Hokey Pokey kit and Templates Set 1 by ME}

Sleepover FUN

Ad Challenge

{Felicia's Flowers kit by ME}

Poor Pepper

Animal Kingdom Challenge

{Just Because kit by KimB}

Strike a Pose!

Scraplift Challenge - this layout by vana63

{Fun Borders 1 by Bunny Cates, Lark kit by ME}

October 09 Desktop

Desktop Challenge

{Desktop Template by Charlie's Digiscraps, Ginger 'N Spice kit by ME}

I also want to wish Bunny a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

I'm so excited because I already have my New Moon tickets!! My sister and I are going together to the midnight showing! November 19th can't come fast enough! HAHAHA

My kids have been out of school this whole week {Fall Break}. It's been really nice having them home. Although, Anson asks me every day "What's today? Is it a school day?" When I say "No." Then he says "Awwwwww I want to go to school!" He is a silly kid!

Hope your week has been good & have a wonderful weekend!