Balance

So I have reduced some of my CT responsibilities as I don't have the time right now to be the proper CT member that I want to be! So Scrap that Idea is my only team now, the other ladies I was on CT's for were very understanding and I may guest for them from time to time, so I'm cool with that! I wish I could spend all my time scrapping, but have realized that sadly, I can't! I have so many other projects that require my time, I want to get back to some sewing and have a few quilts I want to make. I've gotten sucked into a new book series and I've been meaning to update my book blog as well, again, haven't had time, but I will! And between work, the kids and the yard and the whole summer season, balance has been elusive, but I'm sure this is a step in the right direction. SO! On to the new kits for this week...last week Stacey had Snips and Snails out for the boys, so here is Sugar and Spice for the girls! Here is the bundled kit, with some word art and QP's for only $5!! She also did some CU doodles with the kit, so if you're interested make sure you check them out too! And here is my layout, done with one of the templates in the pack that Sara released last week:Vicki released this fantastic kit this week called Imagination:

And I managed to squeeze out two layouts for this kit! I am seriously in love with this one! My first layout I used a quick and easy template from Three Paper Peonies, it's one I've used before and I'll probably use again, as I just love the simplicity!

My second layout I used a template by Julie Billingsley:

And this one is the June collab kit, called My Dad, just in time for all those fathers day layouts! And my layout, template by Kristin Rice:

Also make sure you check out the STI blog for the Soccer World Cup Promo, there will be lots of freebies and challenges and prizes, and it's promising to be a whole lot of fun! But you better hurry, they're only accepting registrations until this Wednesday, June 9th!

So, that's it for now, hope to see you in the forum for the challenges!

Do blog posts really need a title? I can't think of one for this post and they all are about scrap booking usually with little eensy weensy life tidbits thrown in for good measure. I'm sooo tired! We did Chase's 5th birthday party this weekend, it was crazy but fun, and Chase loved it. We had a face painter come to the house and this woman has some serious talent! I'll post pictures later, there is one featured on my layout below, which leads nicely into the newest kits for this week; here is the layout I did with Stacey's new kit, which shows off Chase painted up as Spiderman at his party on the weekend (template by Janet Phillips):Here is the kit preview, it's called Snips and Snails:She has some word art and QP's available as well as an extra alpha bundled up for only $5!Sara has some awesome templates in the store, I had a chance to play with them today, here is the preview:And here is my layout, with my kids. I had a really good weekend with them and am sooo proud of the people they are becoming! My journalling was short and sweet, but reading it I'm sure you could take it the wrong way, it sounds like I just love myself, but what I meant was that when I look at them (some days!) I see a little bit of myself, and it feels great to be proud of them, and know that they are mine. ♥
I used one of Sara's older kits, called Happiness (which is no longer in the store, but maybe if you beg and plead she would re-release it?! It may have even only been a freebie on her blog and maybe was never in the store, I don't remember anymore!):So there you have it. This week may be really sucky for me, I really want to sleep! Chase had his friend Paige sleep over last night and they were up until past midnight! Little buggers kept talking..., it was so cute though, as they're laying on the bed in front of the tv watching Shrek 3, Chase turns to me and says, "Mom, I really like her" and I told him I did too. She's such a great friend for him and they play really well together. Then they were up at 7am, so Chase was really a treat today LOL. Then he had another birthday party today at 1pm, so I ran out and got a gift after Paige's mom picked her up, came home, grabbed Chase and went to the party, and when we got home, he was so miserable that we laid down and had a little nap. I'm hoping they're good tomorrow morning when I get them up, and I have to get to sleep so I'm not a crabby hag tomorrow! Working and getting up all week is going to suck, and I already can't wait until Saturday! So have yourselves a great week, then scrap it!! LOL :)

This Week...

We went camping last weekend to kick off summer, May long weekend in Canada and all that, and it totally snowed! The kids still had fun, Chase spent a lot of time by the fire with Daddy, they made s'mores and tried fishing a couple times, and when they came back to the camper Mommy and Rayna were waiting with hot chocolate!
Stupid thing is, it was only raining when we left home (which isn't unusual for May long weekend, we thought it would just blow over!) and the next day we woke up to find it was snowing, and it continued all day long, the snow in the trees was so heavy it was falling off the branches onto the camper. Crazy. Then I came home and scrapped a little bit with the new kits for this week, first up is Dream a little dream by Mel:My layout (template by Jen Caputo):Next up is Stacey's last kit in the alphabet series, Z is for Zoo. (Don't be sad though, she already has some new kits in the works and they are fantastic! You can also get a deal on her other alphabet kits, so make sure to go grab them if you skipped any!)My layout (template by trixiescraps):Last but not least is Cherish by Vicki:When I saw this kit I knew instantly this was what I wanted to do with it! Chase has been having some behavioural difficulties at his day home (lots of throwing sand, toys and hitting!) so I gave his day home lady some stickers and once he gets ten, I told him I would take him to see Shrek 4, and so far he's doing OK, he's gotten 4 stickers. I wanted to make this chart for him to have at home to keep encouraging him to be good! Gives him a place for his stickers as well, and I made it 8 1/2" by 11" so I could just print it off here. The colors for this kit were perfect! And the plaid paper made me think of Shrek's pants!! So that's it for this week, by baby boy turns 5 this weekend and I have sooo much to do to get ready for his party. I don't know what I was thinking, but this will be his biggest birthday party to date, and there may be over twenty people crammed in my tiny little house!! Hopefully the weather cooperates better for this weekend than it did for our camping! Have a great week everyone!