The Nut's Blog

Update

2012-01-23T17:33:00.000-07:00

Its been a long.. long.. LOOONG time since i last posted. So rather than excuses and all that junk, I'll just have a little fun and show you some of what Im up too.

First... Last week i got ALOT further along with Sabryna's quilt. I started this in, lets see... October. That means i'll be done with it in September?

It doesnt give you much of an idea of the pattern, well because there is not one. I started cutting and sewing, then cutting and sewing. No plan on where to go. I managed to put together 2 big chunks with some left over. Now to add a solid to pull it together. I'll be using some Kona School Bus basically in all the "open" areas you see.

Recently I mentioned on Facebook that my daughter was wanting some of my scraps and that it was like asking for me to pull my arm off and give it to her. Then there was confusion because I have another daughter who hits the scrap bag as well. My littlest, who is 6 years old, likes to sit and hand sew pieces together while sitting next to me when I sew. So far its really not that bad! Here is her WIP.

And her back... (I mark the fabric with dots to help her sew in and out.)

Anyways, other than that... Family life is going good. I got a job at the girls school, which keeps me very busy, but very happy as well.

Ta Ta for now....

Angela

Friday Night Sew In - Results

2011-07-23T11:56:00.000-06:00

My beautiful assistants and great view!

WIP Wednesday #36

2011-07-20T09:46:00.000-06:00

Completed:

Nothing :(

Current projects:
Farmer's Wife Quilt-Along - Just staring. Got the templates all cut out, going to put them to "cardboard" and patiently awaiting the book! will be using the fabrics on previous post and I'm thinking with kona white. Want it to be bright and colorful.

Marshmallow Brochette Quilt Along (for Angelique) Not much on the progress, did sew some of the strips together...

We can do it! Skill Builder Sampler Quilt-Along - one block behind
Having fun with these blocks using up a stash of batiks and playing with a bit of a rainbow theme. I need a yellow batik though.. hahaha.

No progress:
NuBees {A Block Swap} - starts in august
Scrappy BowTie Block Swap
Birdie Stitches Block of the Month - still on april
Oldest daughters quilt (using punctuation fabrics)
Habitat Challenge (Front Range Modern Quilt Guild)

This week's stats:
New projects - 5
Completed projects - 0
Currently in progress - 7

Please leave me any suggestions, comments or whatever! See you all next week (if i can remember)!

Caught the bug ..... Farmer's Wife Quilt-a-long

2011-07-18T12:50:00.000-06:00

I caught it! and its got me badly!

The farmers wife quilt-a-long hosted by Amanda and Angela, where you make 2 blocks out of the book a week.

A blog posting at Pleasant Home had me super excited. She was so organized about the process that I felt I could totally handle this project!

I sure do hope I can do this! I wont have the book until later this week (shipping ugh). But

But now for my DILEMMA......

I'm thinking of using these fabrics combined with a solid.. maybe white? I don't know what solid to use... Any ideas? White, snow, charcoal, or other?

Kona Snow?

Kona White?

Help me out!!

Sunday Thought

2011-07-17T14:00:00.000-06:00

by smilesdaball

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;

he delivers them from all their troubles.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

A righteous man may have many troubles,

but the LORD delivers him from them all.

Psalm 34:17-19

Crash not burn

2011-07-16T11:13:00.000-06:00

After leading the crafts and activities for VBS camp, Im exhausted! I was incognito for the last two weeks trying to make sure alot of the things were taken care of, my leaders were trained and ready, and that I would survive. It ended up being an AWESOME week with the kiddos, with God giving us many blessings.

On the quilting front, not alot got done. I did cut 100 2" strips of muslim for one of the crafts (the kiddos got to dye the strips and keep them). I did manage to get some fabric shopping in!!

I have no clue who or what this fabric is, but i love the two together:

What do you think of the yellow, white, grey combo?

I also got a stash of Kona White and Kona Snow... seems im learning these are essential colors to have on hand.

Oh and I did sign up for 2 bees: Scrappy BowTie Swap; and NuBee Bee. Im very excited to give them a chance and see if im cut out for the world of Flickr Bees.

I have also been working very hard at the Skill Builder Series, and while a new tutorial is up (i havnt done yet) I'm pretty much caught up...

WIP - #30

2011-06-08T17:10:00.000-06:00

Ahhhh... the nice June days...

Finished: Well I did manage to finally finish this quilt!!! Yeah and a month early too!

In Progress:
Birdie Block of the Month On March and it still looks like this:

Marshmellow Brochette Quilt Along (for Angelique) on to the next step, made the strips.
Decided i needed to do some planning for step 3 and did so much math my mind is spinning. However, here is a picture of the pink we chose... what do you think?

New This Week:
I need to figure out a way to take these old quilt items and make them into a pillow for my mother in law... not sure how to do it or even how to fix the one... any thoughts? ideas?

I also am going to start a quilt with this group: (fabrics are sort of selected using a ton of 5" charms that are kinda random)

My other daughter has fabrics for a quilt for her.. i need to pick a pattern or idea and get cutting soon. These are her fabrics... Puncuation (i think) and a Robert K solid:

WiP Wednesday #30 Recap:
Last week's total: 3
Finished this week: 1
In progress this week: 2
New this week: 2
This week's total: 4

A Derby Tale

2011-06-07T20:25:00.000-06:00

The morning started out dull. We arrived way to early at the Palmer Lake Kids Fishing Derby. Rather than sit around we helped the people set up. Once 8 am hit we were on our way down the lake with our new poles!

The morning got even rougher with a mom and papa who were trying to remember years ago how to put a pole and line together. After a few funky and very funny attempts at casting, we finally figured it out! But before we could start fishing, we had a few neighbors join us and these little guys swam by to say hello....

Then we were down to business. Each of the girls were told to be patient, quiet and to not give up. The older two were allowed to experiment with casting and learned quite quickly....

Zoey was too little to really trust with the hook, so papa and mom helped her out the best they could. However, when her line came in... she cried out "they took my corn and gave me seeeeeweeeed!" followed by a disgusted look on her face. She did not like that seaweed one bit.

As the day progressed, it was funny to watch what the girls did. Sabryna thought that it would just be easier to sit on the ground... with a perfectly good chair next to her....

The one I worried the most about not liking fishing, is my active and fun child Angelique. I didnt know if she had it in her to be that patient. She handled the day super well, even when she got the hook on her finger! She didnt give up and had such patience! By the end of the day with not a single fish caught, it be came a game of learning how to cast out where they wanted it to be. They sure did try to perfect their swing and aim!

It was a great weekend... NOW... I need to quilt a good comfy blanket so when we fish again, I can lay back with a good book and let them catch me some DINNER...

Anyone have a suggestion for a quilt for this??

WIP - #29

2011-06-01T12:49:00.000-06:00

Checking in!!

Finished:
Mug rugs for teachers and secretaries. I did not get photos of all of them :( pooh!

This is a photo from the Art Hop where Crafty Laine hosted some of our mug rugs for show from the FrontRangeModernQuiltGuild. Mine are the last two on the right.

In Progress:
Birdie Block of the Month
Got Feb finished:

March almost....

Robert Kaufman Solid challenge just needs the binding completed:

New This Week:
Marshmellow Brochette Quilt Along (for Angelique) ran out of blue fabric!!

WiP Wednesday #29 Recap:
Last week's total: Didnt check in!
Finished this week: 5 mug rugs (that counts right?)
In progress this week: 2
New this week: 1
This week's total: 3

Monday - Updates and "One thousand and More Gifts"

2011-05-30T12:32:00.000-06:00

Its been awhile since I blogged. While i determined to blog more often, its not an easy habit to get into. I feel like I only bore you all!

So... I am currently binding up my Rainbow Quilt (see previous posts) and started on the next one. Im doing the
Marshmallow Brochette Quilt Along but with my own nutty choices. I just did rainbow, and dont want to do it again. Angeliques birthday is coming up so she chose these fabrics.

Mix of Robert Kaufman Solids and Central Park by Kate Spain

We did have a blast this weekend, we joined a new group at meetup called the "nonhikers hiking club" and took a few fun pictures. The girls had a blast!

Half way up the trail we stopped on a ledge and took this photo:

At the very top of the trail (before we looped back) we saw the Siamese Twins. (this was at Garden of the Gods).

When we finished we headed to old colorado city and I got my picture with one of my favorite weather men, Brian Bledsoe (little did i realize the man in the cap near him was my other favorite Branden Borreman!!). Shucks!

I think it was a good week... now to my One thousand and More Gifts:
11. feeling the sunburn on my scalp and being grateful that we even had sun for a weekend.
12. watching the girls learn the value of a good hike
13. seeing the beauty of the area we hiked at and knowing the formations we saw were works of one God.
14. having friends who understand without knowing the details and accept me.
15. realizing that faith is not always an easy thing, but you gotta keep having it.
16. waking up to find a precious little girl sleeping peacefully next to me... she was comforted from a nightmare by just being by me, but let momma sleep.

See you all soon!! Im off to eat potato salad and watch the kids TRY to wash my car!

We Can Do It! Skill Builder Sampler

2011-05-22T16:02:00.000-06:00

Im joining in on this quilt along. Its a month by month block sampler that's going to make learning certain skills easy for a new quilter like me. I do hope you will join in. Leila has a very awesome program put together and lots of fun in store. Anyone with me?

Oh and cute little blog button to go along with it.

Now... to figure out what fabrics I want to use... hmmm. Post on that later!

Works in Progress - Check In

2011-05-18T09:33:00.000-06:00

What a crazy week... heck MAY! That last month of school means a ton of things going on. I feel like I've been spining in a circle.

I did manage to get my RobertK Challenge quilt sandwiched and pinned. I purchased a free motion foot to quilt it but got the WRONG one! ugh. However this Friday I plan on finishing it up. Here is the final look. I ended up adding more black and white around the outside to give it more size. It just felt way to small.

My daughter has been wanting to learn to sew for so long. She really expressed a wish for a sewing machine and fabrics for her birthday, so i finally decided to help her learn (any links, tips, ideas would be great for teaching. I have no clue what I'm doing). She is making a mug rug for her teacher...

Moda Glace by 3 sisters charms

Its not perfect, but shes happy and im sure her teacher will be also!

I have also started making mug rugs for others. After giving Zoey's teacher a mug rug for Teacher Appreciation Week, many others have admired it. So Im going to gift them with some too. These better be finnished by Monday!

Black and White Fabrics are Robert Kaufman, Blue is Central Park... the rest i have no clue.

This one is for a set of ladies who make me smile all the time. They are really 2 peas in a pod... so I'm making semi-coordinating mug rugs for them... the tops:

Completed and awaiting quilting:
Robert Challenge Quilt
2 mug rugs

Trying to do:
Birdie Block of the Month

This week's stats:
New projects - 0
Completed projects - 0
Currently in progress - 5

I really would like to get thinking about a new quilt... does anyone know of a quilt-a-long that JUST started or is starting soon??

One Thousand Gifts - 1 to 10

2011-05-17T07:46:00.000-06:00

I have been following a blog called "Holy Experiences" and after hearing about the authors personal story, her history, I thought... "Here is someone who has had a past similar to mine". As I discovered more about her, I learned she wrote a book called "One Thousand Gifts"

This inspired me to finally start putting down all the blessings God gives me. I'm going to blog it every Monday (or mess up and throw it on Tuesday) current or blessings i found during the week. If your interested in joining in... browse those links above for more information.

1 - the voice of a 5 year old lifted up in song singing "holy holy holy, is the lord god almighty"
2 - a little tomato struggling for survival with the cold, staying strong and growing in the midst of it all.
3 - child happily sitting and feeling so beautiful because of some hot curlers in her hair.
4 - secret notes left on my bathroom mirror "I hope you dont get sick, i love you"
5 - strength from good friends when i put myself into a ditch of cannot.
6 - warm toes all night long.
7 - reflection on the beauty that God allowed my hands to create.
8 - dewy fog, deep and thick.... then a burst of sun.
9 - gentle nudges when the alarm didnt go off.
10 - someone to call when sadness overwhelmes me, who always tells me the same joke "Why do they put fences around graveyards?...... people are dying to get it" and it always makes me smile!

Solid Challenge - Progress so far

2011-05-11T11:01:00.000-06:00

When I joined the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild, there was a challenge just starting. We were given a charm pack of Robert Kaufman' solids and were to make a quilt using only one additional fabric for the top (another for the back and binding if we wish).

I was so at a loss what to do, all those rainbow colors ... I wanted rainbow fabric. But first I needed a idea of what to do. For my birthday I received this book:

Click on image for link to Author!

See that sewing machine cover? I was so interested in that look that I decided to use it as the basis of my design. But then part of the challenge was that the quilt must be 40x40 inches. I needed much more fabric use than just my little squares. I pulled out some graph paper and began to figure out a fun pattern (oh and the odd number of squares i was ending up with...)

Ahhh, now that looks better. Some filling (all the same fabric) and some odd squares. I cut the 5" charms into 4- 2 1/2" inch squares. Thus one of the sets of 4 will be used in an random place on the big strips. Now I have my plan, time to get started!

(FYI - My daughters have realized HOW important MATH is especially FRACTIONS and DECIMALS for mom!!!)

Now ... I spent quite some time on the piecing.... such tedious steps... la .. da... good thing I have good music to listen to while quilting...

And... after another afternoon of over 120 pieces on my bed, I finally figured out what order i wanted the colors in.... im almost done with this step!

So super excited.... the only last dilemma i had was what to use on the backing.... but that's a surprise for later!

----Now after i had cut all that black Robert Kaufman fabric into strips.... someone talked to me about how to line up fabric. Im almost glad though that the black and white squares are not perfectly straight, it seems to add fun directions to the overall layout. ----

Comments? ideas? Thoughts?

Please share!!!

Catching up

2011-05-04T08:39:00.000-06:00

A while back i posted a photo of the blocks for the Birdie Stitches BOM Flickr Group but I really didnt get far in finishing the blocks. So... Im catching up! I have January done! and February half way there!

Any comments about the colors used or anything? Im totally new at this.

Also, I bought this fabric and I love it, but I'd like some coordinating pieces from the same line. I have NO clue who the designer is or the line... does anyone recognize?

See you all soon when i can post more blocks finished, or even a sneak peak at a very rainbow-ee quilt im making!

Easter Gift - Notebook Bags

2011-04-25T20:51:00.000-06:00

I saw something like this in a store and resolved to make a bag like that for my girls...

See... in the summer the childrens ministry has a break and the children join the parents for the main service. This is a great opportunity for them, but i have rules for my girls. (told you im a mean mom) In the service the last 2 years they had notebooks where they would either write or draw what they hear from the sermon. The girls actually do a great job, you should see the picture of King Nebuchadnezzar!

Now they can go to church with something fun, and organized. They no longer will have to fight over colors or pencils as they will be totally prepared!

Each girl chose their favorite fabric... I chose the applique i did on them. 2 of the fabrics were from my dear friend!! I know the centers look awful, but i couldnt figure out what to do with them. Progressively each one was better done as I learned about what i was doing! LOL.

Please leave a comment about what you think?

Owl inspired by CED Josh and Megan Collection
flower inspired by STI SS Woodland Applique

Suprise Stash!

2011-04-22T15:49:00.000-06:00

A dear dear friend of mine (maker of my i-spy quilt) sent me a stash of fabrics! I opened up the box and spread all of the fabrics on the floor so i could lovingly adore each one and think of many ideas for them.

My daughters were excited, they were quick to tell me their favorites.
Sabryna liked the Oranges:

Angelique liked the green "wet picture":

Zoey liked the ones with GOLD in them:

I couldnt chose a favorite, but i was a bit sad the mug rug swap for the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild happened already. My partner loves Giraffe's and i couldnt find one for her!

Now off to do an easter project!!!

Jan to March Blocks Pieced!

2011-03-03T07:11:00.000-07:00

Im totally stoked! I got all three of the first three months cut, organized and pieced together so that i can work on them during our road trip!

So... they are crazy. But you know that im a nut right? I like to look and look at things!! I couldnt decide what fabric to use on the outside border, so i thought, why not have a little fun with an ispy type effect. The fabrics will repeat themselves however, in later blocks!

Also, i took the picture last night while Randy was sleeping in the bed behind me. So i couldnt grab the best lighting.

What do you think? Do i have talent afterall?

Im getting crafty

2011-02-26T18:50:00.000-07:00

I like sewing, and i like embroidery. What better than the two combined?

Im joining this group! Ive gotta catch up one month, but no worries I'm almost there! I hope to share pictures soon. (i was delayed waiting for fabric i purchased to get here!)

Project Love Me - Dream Layout 1

2011-01-02T19:59:00.002-07:00

My Layout.....

My journaling (incase you cannot read it):
Dreaming is not
something I often do.
Too often others come
before any wishes or
desires I may have.
Ive really had to sit
and think, what are my
dreams. I dont mind that
I let others come first, in
fact I do get joy from it.
I think perhaps its because
God has made me this way.
When I think of that, I realized
I do have one dream that
stands out, one hope that
is above all others, one..
one hope that gets me
to the next day. My God.
Oh how I desire to know
him and his word without
question or confusion.
How I wish that I could
hear his voice speak
to me, guide me
and love on me.
My deep deep
hope that he has
redeemeded “ME”.
That little me, with all
my mistakes, bad
bad choices... is
wanted by him.
These hopes,desires
and wishes do drive
me every day. A few years
ago, I thought it would be
a long time before I ever
felt the lord, like I see in
a friend of mine. I even
gave up hope once.
But after the last 13
months, I have seen
that God has given me
a path to travel to make
it into his arms. I have seen
in just a few short months how
he can heal even the worst in
my life. And in such a short time
he has given me hope
and desire to be closer to
him then I have ever wished
to be. BUT I wont stop
here, because I WANT
so much more.... I want,
no ... I dream of one
day having His arms
wrapped around me
and holding me TIGHT.

(layout uses iDream, some product by ziggle, and AWI ssemb highlighters)

Project Love Me - Cover

2011-01-02T19:58:00.000-07:00

My cover.....

The journaling (in case you cannot read it):

One of the things I think of when I scrap for my children is

whether or not they will know me. I fear something will happen to me and
they will not have their stories about their childhood. But what about me? If
something should happen, will they know who I was? I have so many stories, and
while I do share them with the girls, I do not commit them in a way for them to
have at a later date. Beyond that, I also think of grandkids, or great grandkids,
will they ask about me and get no answer, no story?

This is a chance for me to tell all the things about me. What hopes and dreams I have.
The things that make me laugh, the things that make me cry. The things I do, the things I
will NOT do. Things that aresilly and nutty about me. Things I love, things I dont. My
opinions and thoughts whether or not they are right. My love for God, and my
intimate relationship with him. The things I seek, things Ive found.
Im not perfect, so im sure some of my stories will be quite interesting. I
can be very short and to the point, other times I can talk your ear
off. My goal is to work hard, push myself to complete this
wonderful project and not give up. In the end when or if
it happens later that someone asks “Who was she?” They
will have this book to go too. They will be able to laugh and
cry with me, and go on a discovery to find out...
That this is Who I am!

(products used are from a large mixture of kits by both SuzyQ and Ziggle)

ScrapGirls Anniversary Bingo List: Chat room game for all of Sat Night

2010-10-23T18:18:00.001-06:00

Below are a list of 50 words. Choose 15 words. Email your chosen words to Angela Nussbaum --- nutscraps@gmail.com ---- .... Subject your Member Name.

This game will run only in these chats:

Anniversary Party Chat @ 7PM MT (9PM ET)

Cram the Chat @ 8PM MT (10PM ET)

Pj Party Chat @ 9PM MT (11PM ET)

You must be in the chat to hear the words called.

THE WORDS:

----------------------------------

shopping
credit card
gifts
layouts
gallery

message board
Scrap Simple
classes
bows
wrapping paper

challenges
newsletter
camera
LSL (left some love)
collections

October

Biggie

games

Sale

VI (six in roman numerals)

chatting
Huckleberry Monkey
JIF 6
scrapaholic
Boutique Babes

Designers
Layout Artists
creativity
prizes
party hats

Rozanne
Valerie
Boutique
Candles
cake

ice cream

Confetti
Balloons
Scrap Girls
Six

Presents
Anniversary
Celebration
Good friends

chocolate

purple
Girls
Silly
fun
Ribbons

speed crop layout for today!

2010-06-24T20:41:00.002-06:00

Recipe - Corn on the cob n'Basil butter Rub

2010-06-03T15:06:00.000-06:00

I love doing a bit more with my corn on the cob than just butter salt and pepper..... Here is a recipe i just love and you will too!!!

Products used to create card are from scrapgirls.com

Want to get more grilling recipes? Try looking at this site: Our Homeschool Home: On the Grill

Breaking Free - Facebook

2010-05-27T16:03:00.000-06:00

I just did something truely amazing for myself.

I was just in a chat at scrapgirls.com when the person i was chatting with mentioned something. It kinda hit me, that what she said applied to me in a way. I have spent most of this year trying to Break Free from all those things that hold me captive.... and guess what?.... Facebook was holding me WAY captive. The addiction i felt towards the games is so powerful.

So suddenly, without thinking about it i said "im deleting all thsoe games." Sure that sounded so brave, assure of myself... but as i went in to delete them... oh dear! the hardship!

I worked so hard on that one
I have so many recipes...
My pooor pet... she has all those great rooms
my high score....
That one was so fun once...

Thsoe thoughts kept entering my brain and I couldnt hit that X no matter how i tried.

Finally i took a deep breath and called on my superhero to come and release me. "God" I called out from deep in my soul "Help me hit that X"

An amazing peace, a breath of fresh air, a feeling of lightness came over me and i hit those X's and over 200 more!

I am now game free from facebook. but.... im not silly to think i wont be tempted in the future. A new prayer is added to my prayer list. "God, help me to resist and ignore, delete or hide those temptations. God help me to love facebook in a way that is healthy for me, and honoring to you."

Was that drastic? Possibly, but i highly suggest you give it a try! God is so liberating! Go... go delete 2 or 3... see how it feels!

Now.... to make a list of things i want to do with my time!!! Any suggestions? :)

See! only a couple apps left... only ones like status update (very neat religious themes there)

and a few others. NO games!

Summer Reading - An exciting family activity

2010-05-26T09:19:00.001-06:00

Growing up, i watched my mom read. ALOT. It instilled such a love for reading in me!

When i lived in Lousiana, i was stunned that the children there had "required" summer reading lists. Books they MUST read before coming back to school. Pleasently stunned is a better way of saying that, i thought it was an awesome idea and looked forward to my children one day bringing home their lists.

Now though, where we live there are no lists for them.

So i created my own summer reading program.... that works perfectly with our libraries summer event!
First I look up the HAISLN (http://www.haisln.org/recommendedreadinglists.html) site and print out their lists for my girls. The lists include short descriptions of the books, i have the girls highlight some of the books they are interested in.

Then i log onto our local library website and either put one or two on hold, or request some transfers!

Then throughout the summer we have a personal reading time, and just before bed I read aloud to them from a novel. Even Zoey who is 4 can sit and listen to the novel!!! Right now we are reading a Harry Potter book.

I also have myself a reading list. I pull books from The Modern Library Top 100 Lists. Ive slowly made my way through the lists. I think its important for them to see mom ALSO sitting and enjoying reading!!

Another fun thing we do for the reading program is to go on reading adventures. We will pick places to go read at. The park, the lake, monument rock, coffee shop... anywhere we can think of. We tried McDonalds once, but that was tooooo distracting! LOL.

Its amazing! So i suggest, if your school does not have a reading list for summer.... get excited with your children and create your own!!!

If you do have your own, im curious, what do you do to encourage your kids to read over the summer???

Angela

Its the end...

2010-05-21T09:48:00.000-06:00

Im still stunned that today is the last day of the school year. What am I to do with these kids for 3 months?

The girls had a blast on their field days yesterday and i got a chance to take an end of the year class photo. I love seeing how the kids have changed over the whole year!

Angeliques Class

Sabryna's Class

And i cant leave my little Zoey. She did a FULL day of activities and crashed at one point.

Valentines for the girls.

2010-02-13T11:58:00.000-07:00

Every year i do something fun and different for the girls. Anonomously. This year I wanted to do something very neat for them. I created these neat felt and fleece dolls. The red one is a picture i found that Angelique had drawn, the other two are my creations (zoey knows im making these, and requested a bunny). I really liked making these and might make some and see if they can sell. Im also working on some cute felt barrettes. It does me good to do things with my hands to create, it makes me feel good, it destresses me, and its fun.

Happy Valentines Day to YOU, too!!!

Flying Teeth

2010-01-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

This is a funny story. Angelique is a bit timid when it comes to losing her teeth. She has only lost 2 prior to this, even though shes already 7 years old. The top two teeth have been loose for a very long time. The dentist even commented in October that one of them should be out soon. Angelique wouldn't wiggle though, or even try. She would get so scared!

On Sunday at lunch, we noticed she was eating funny. Angelique commented her top teeth hurt when she eats, So i looked at them and saw that both teeth were barely hanging there!

At home I insisted on her wiggling it or letting me do it. She was wiggling it and crying in fear. Dad came out and with some pliers and started teasing her. When he suggested tying a string to it and her slamming the door, to my surprise she was up for it!

Flying Tooth from Angela Nussbaum on Vimeo.

December 2nd - That Batch of Cookies

2009-12-02T19:55:00.008-07:00

I remember, back when I was a pre teen. I had decided i wanted to decorate sugar cookies for Christmas. I pulled out my moms famous big batch recipe (which is now lost, *sad sigh*) and proceeded to mix it up. My mom didnt have a full measuring spoon set, just a large Tablespoon, but i felt confident that i could "figure it out". I did fairly fine... got it all mixed, and baked. They baked perfectly in our oven.

As they were cooling, i called my friend to come over and help me decorate while i made some icings. I thought i was the coolest person to bake my own cookies. We had sat down, decorated a couple and decided to try our masterpieces.

PfHHHHhhhgaht! *spit spit*

The cookies, even with their super sweet icing were horrible!!! They were so salty, you could barely get the taste out of your mouth. As i reviewed the recipe, i noticed it said 1 tsp for the salt, and i had put in 1 Tbsp!

Moral of the story is to not think so highly of yourself that you lose focus on the task at hand!

Merry Christmas

now.. i need some cookies....

Here is a cookie recipe, i made in 2007, that you cant mess up!!!
~............Merry Christmas..............~

**This is NOT gluten free.

December 1st - Holiday Values (day late)

2009-12-02T16:55:00.002-07:00

Family Values is defined as: values especially of a traditional or conservative kind which are held to promote the sound functioning of the family and to strengthen the fabric of society.

Goodness, thats what i am doing? yes! yup, thats what i am doing for my girls! :)

Values that we try to instill during christmastime:

Compassion and Empathy for others. Whether others surcumstaances are bad or good, that everyone is disserving of our love.
Spiritualality. That we choose to love God and the baby that was born for us.
Respect. We show everyone respect, including each other. We also show respect for others holiday beliefs.
Fun and Joy. To take joy in all the things we do, all the things we see, and the things shared with us.
Gratitude. That while we do not experiance a Santa visit full of toys, we are truely grateful for all that we have, and that we recieve.

A few years back my husband and i changed the way we celebrate christmas. Rather than focusing on Santa, being good and all the gifts. We spend the month of December celebrating Jesus and all the things he came here to teach us. We do activites as a family such as going to see lights, or a parade. But we also do things as a family to give back to our community, and our direct neighbors.

Last year i created a fun set of advent cards .... counting down the 12 days of christmas. It was a huge success and the kids loved them.

Each card is different and varies. One card has a scripture, the next an activity, then back again to scripture. Slowly it tells the story of Jesus birth, with a fun activity to go along.

Products used from ScrapGirls.com. Click on the picture for more details and products used.

Change is coming

2009-11-23T15:12:00.003-07:00

I feel it in the air. Change. The air is crisp, cold and full of white stuff!

Change is wonderful!

I feel like this year is going out with a bang ... GO 2009!!!

I fell in love with the idea of a Daily December album. Im getting prepped and ready for it! I have right now 12 pages already to go with help from ScrapGirls.com and their gorgeous collections and Digital Layout templates.

hang with me!! I hope to post some of them here.

Oh, and maybe even keep up with this blog.

HUGS to you all...

Change is on its way!

Angela N.

Just for fun, here is my page, all ready to go for a Tree shot.

Products used from www.scrapgirls.com: Keri Schueller's Charm of Christmas, Melissa Renfro's Golden Memories, Erica Hite's A Joyful Season, and for font i used Amanda McGee's Thoughtful font. (template from someone, have no recollection on this one, sorry.)

I cant forget....

2009-09-11T15:10:00.002-06:00

9/11. It holds so many memories for many peopl. For myself it holds a mix of both happiness and sadness. Now hold on, I'm not happy in anyway for those whose lives were lost. I am not happy because there are people out there with so much hatred they would kill innocents. I am not happy that there are ones who would destroy our nation. I feel such soul pulling sadness when i think back to that day. To the images I saw later when I got off work, images that still linger. I am almost near tears to think of it.

Happy though you ask? Because we are a nation that stands! Because we have beliefs and are not pursecuted for them. Because I can have an athiest friend who wont attack my for my Christian beliefs. Because in the day that followed 9/11 God gave me one of the most beautiful gifts, my daughter. My daughter was conceived on 9/12. I know the day well. The doctor was suprised I could tell him the exact hour I know she was conceived on.

My 9/11 baby. I call her that. Because in a moment of sadness, I, unmarried sought out comfort. What followed was a blessing :). My doctor called it the 9/11 Phenonemon. He said that God was giving those souls back to us, because in the months that followed, he found a HUGE increase of women who conceived in the aftermath of 9/11.

Happy. I am happy to see that after all that sadness, all that distruction, that horror.... a baby, a pure, innocent life was given. Several given. I look at my daughter and I think of how, in the light of everything, good can come from it.

Loves to you all, Prayers to those who are missing loved ones today, may God bless you, hold you and keep you in his arms.

Angela
(image from chascarper @ flikr, Thank You)

A Nut explaination.

2009-08-20T08:07:00.005-06:00

Every once in awhile it hits me... you forgot your blog!! Argh!

Recently someone asked me why everyone online referred to me as the NUT, did I really want ppl thinking I was some crazy mom? I laughed and explained that when I married my dear husband, and took on his name, I also took on being a nut. You see, his last name is Nussbaum. Nuss - means Nut in German, and baum means tree. So... we are a family tree of nuts!!! Hence I married the perfect man for me!

P.S. I dont think it helps that I'm such a silly, happy, fun person... it makes me so much more nuttier.

a picture, one must have a picture for a post!
This picture came from our trip to Ohio. I wanted a picture of me and my three girls, and rather than hand my camera to someone I thought how fun to just reach out, turn the camera around and snap us! It took 4 tries to get us all in the camera!!!

Lifted from Trish Yocums Bruchetta at its best layout. All products used from www.scrapgirls.com: Thao Cosgroves Having Hope AND Lifes Canvas Collections; Cherise Olsens StitchNholesAction 8301PSE, Cheryl Barber STYLE StitchenNHoles 4102, Amanda Sok's Style Stucco, Sarah Batdorfs ACTIONS Deep Shadows PSE

So long fustration... I have the Lord on my side!

2009-07-14T15:24:00.004-06:00

Some of you dont know that I have spent the whole summer studing Beth Moores' Stepping up Series on the Psalms of Ascent. One thing that we really talked alot on was taking the High Road. So. I decided that i would pick out a few things in my life and very slowly start taking steps to go on the High Road.

1 - Chores, I now will start every task with a small prayer of thankfulness for all that I have. Thankfulness for having carpets, for having dishes, for having machines like a dishwasher.

2 - Children, I will now strive to take 3 breaths before speaking when i am feeling fustration. I will aim to call out to God for every time a child needs disciplined. I will also pray constantly for God to catch my children when they are misbehaving. I also want to pray especially for Sabryna as she works out this new path of becoming a teen.

3 - Work, I will STOP feeling the need to procrastinate. While all my tasks are done on time, I will stop waiting to the last minute. I will plan on creating a work schedual and adhearing to it. I also will pray over my work, my co-workers, and the customers who are my friends.

4 - Marriage, I will STOP praying for my husband to become something he is not. Instead I will pray that God helps me to see the man that I love, and to encourage him as he is. I will no longer seek to change him, but leave him in God's hands, as he has the perfect plan.

5 - Image, I will now see myself as a Princess. I am worthy of His love, His affection. I will no longer shoot myself down with negative thoughts of image, and self worth. I will pray that God will work change in me so that others will be moved by me.

6 - Spiritually, I will now imerse myself in the Word of God. I will try to memorize scriptures, and seek him more often. I will also seek to pray and read the Word of God with my husband and my family. I will also forgive as 2nd Corinthians 2:10-11 tells us too, encourage as Hebrews 10:24-26 tells us, and love as 1st Peter 4:7-8 asks us.

I am going to make these work. I so dearly yearn for a closer relationship with God, and I just know that with His help, I can over come.

Do you have things in your life where you need to take the High Road?

Lovingly,
Angela N.

A fun and neat photo of my daughter Sabryna. She is a source of great joy to me. (Brushes by JessicaSprauge)

Minne "SODA"

2009-06-16T07:47:00.003-06:00

Converastion last night.

Angelique "Daddy what is Minnesota?"
Daddy "um, its a state"
Angelique "Is it where soda comes from?"
Daddy "um, no, soda comes from everywhere"
Angelique "then why is Soda in Minnesota?"
Daddy "Angelique, are you done eating?"
Angelique "Is soda older than Minnesota?"
Daddy "No, i think Minnesota became a state in 1850's, Soda more recent."

And then began a big discussion on looking at a map of states that includes statehood information!

LOL!

Thought ya'll would enjoy that.

Sacks of Potatos are worth their weight!

2009-06-10T12:18:00.001-06:00

Angelique and Sabryna tetertottering from Angela Nussbaum on Vimeo.

This was so crazy! Sabryna kept complaining about the tetertotter because she had to do all the work, Angelique just didnt weigh enough to come down all the way. I was sitting near by and said "Angelique, what you need is to gain about 10 pounds" She asked me what was 10 pounds, and i replied a sack of potatos. Next think I know she goes running into ask her Aunt for a bag of potatos. The funny thing was, it worked!

Working from Home - All is better!

2009-05-25T21:00:00.002-06:00

Its been a bit since i posted. Such a hectic life i now lead!! Im so glad summer is here.

Where have i been you ask? Well besides the end of the year with MOPS, end of school year and a rather interesting vacation (from which im writing from)... I have also been glued to a new book.

Some of you, my friends, have heard me already sing the books praise since i started reading it a few weeks ago. I was only on chapter 3 when i knew it already changed my life as a "WORK AT HOME" mom. So now i want to share this book with all you my friends.

The book is called "Making work at home work" and its written by Mary M. Byers. For such a long time i struggled with fitting how to be the stay at home mom i am, with the fact that i do have a part time job. I have been trying to juggle in things like volunteering and being at the kids school, with deadlines. UGH! Its just too frustrating. One of the things i have learned from Mary is to no longer look at myself as a stay at home mom.

While some of her book was hard for me to relate too, I don't fully own my own business, there were many points that has helped me tremendously with my job at ScrapGirls.com - Like: How to be systematic, take a break, how to face a dinner dilemma (neat recipes included) and getting past the guilt of working from home.

If you work from home, either working for someone else or running your own business, please go get this book. I plan on going out to purchase a few copies to give as gifts to a few friends i know could use it!

I am a nutty mom... look what i let happen.

2009-04-21T17:15:00.005-06:00

We had that huge blizzard this last weekend. Got at least 2 feet of snow and drifts as high as 3 feet. Its all melting in 2 days! Totally amazing.

The setup we have for our playground area is surrounded by railroad ties, in the attempt to keep mulch in the area. Every time the snow melts, a pool forms. Zoey came home and exclaimed, "Swimming mommy!" and wanted to put on her swimsuit. My first instinct was, um.. melted snow, COLD!!! But then the nut in my head said "ah mom, let her do it." So i did. Here she is. (oh and sister Angelique did join her but i didnt get a video..)

Melted Snow Swimming Pool from Angela Nussbaum on Vimeo.

Friday Foodie Fix - Best Omelet (gluten free)

2009-04-17T11:21:00.008-06:00

I decided to use this recipe that my family, who does not like avocados like i do, will eat. This omelet is the best and everyone eats it up!

I decided to use my scrapping skills to make up the recipe all cute. If you want to replicate the recipe, I got all the products from ScrapGirls.com (see below).

Products used from ScrapGirls.com : Syndee Nuckles Noteworthy Collection Biggie ; LD Chicken Scratch Font

Porcupine Meatballs - Gluten Free

2009-04-10T16:42:00.007-06:00

Im being cute and using a recipe card I created. The challenge today for the Friday Foodie Fix (lots of recipes at that link) was to use Eggs, I hope they dont kick me out since the recipe only calls for one egg. Im new at this cooking gluten free. I still need to modify MANY of my recipes and try them before i share them! lol.

So thanks for looking, here is the card:

Products used to create the card are from ScrapGirls.com: Syndee Nuckles' Hoot and Annie Collection and LD Hen Hand Font. Card will not print, but you are welcome to recreate by purchasing those products!

Jesus Rolls (aka Resurrection Rolls) GLUTEN FREE

2009-04-10T07:49:00.004-06:00

I was just given the how to on making these rolls the other day, and i was bummed. It called for a can of crescent rolls and... well there is the gluten thing! LOL. So here i am thinking, with all those wonderful ladies out there cooking, is there a gluten free crescent roll recipe that could be used as a substitute?

THERE IS!!!!

This is a recipe that I found posted by several ppl, im not sure who the original person is, but it definitely was not me... so...

Crescent Rolls

1/2 stick butter (note - that is 1/4 cup), room temperature
3/4 cup small curd cottage cheese

1 cup gf flour mix (there is a great all purpose flour you can use )
1 tsp xanthan gum
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 TBS sugar

In the bowl of your mixer, combine the butter and cottage cheese. Add dry ingredients. Mix until a ball of dough forms.

Wrap in plastic wrap and chill 2 hours (I left mine overnight, as I wanted it ready in the morning).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On lightly floured piece of parchment paper, roll the dough into a 14 inch circle. Cut into 8 triangles (really easy with a pizza cutter).

Roll each triangle from wide end to tip, turning ends to form a crescent shape. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake 20 to 30 minutes.

BUT!!!! Dont cook them!!! this is why that part of the recipe is small. The goal here is not Cresent Rolls but Resurrection Rolls, right?

So... Here is how you do Resurrection Rolls...

Got your kids?

You need:
Crescent dough (in triangles)
Large Marshmellows
Melted butter
Cinnamon and Sugar mixed together

Got that?

Now, give each child a triangle and explain to them that it represents the Tomb that Jesus was placed in.
Now give them a marshmellow that represents the body of Jesus.
Dip the marshmellows into the butter, then roll in the cinnamon and sugar. Explain how during that time bodies were anointed before burial with oils and spices.
Place the marshmellow on the dough and very carefully wrap it around the marshmallow, Making sure all the seams are pinched together well. (thus the marshmellow wont oooze out of the seams)

Now you can bake! We have the oven preheated to 350 from the Crecent Recipe, right? Now we place the rolls onto parchment sheets and bake for 20 to 30 minutes.

Allow them to cool.

When your child breaks open the "tomb" they will find it hollow and empty. The body of Christ is no longer there. Celebrate Jesus's life and God's wonderous love together!

Angela

Slow Cooked Pork Chops - Gluten Free

2009-04-09T13:42:00.003-06:00

Here is a recipe I pulled together on Tuesday. It was Randy's birthday and he wanted meat that tasted good. I had these delicious thick pork chops, so i thought... id make a sauce.

So... here is what i did.

Slow Cooked Pork Chops
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons Oil
Salt and Pepper
1 Tablespoon liquid smoke (colgin's is gluten free)
1 can tomato sauce
3 Tablespoons Splenda Brown Sugar Blend
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (lea and perrins is gluten free)
1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar

Take about 2 table spoons of Oil and heat in a skillet. Then add pork chops and lightly salt and pepper. I sprinkled about 1 tablespoon of liquid smoke on each one. Lightly cook on all sides. No need to cook all the way through.

Place in a crock pot, hopefully in one layer , and then mix the sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and vinegar in a bowl. Then poor over the top of the chops. Slow cook on low for approximately 4 1/2 hours. BE very careful of over cooking pork chops though, they can dry out.

(sorry no pictures! Hubby ate way to fast!)

Also! Watch out! Im learning to cook gluten free, and I experiment like crazy, and now there is a blog that has inspired me with a challenge called "Friday Foody Fix" Im going to be creating new things and doing my best to be gluten free!

Would love for anyone who makes this to please share your opinions!!

Come and Gone

2009-03-27T09:20:00.002-06:00

Yesterday i posted a beginning look at my yard, before this spring blizzard hit us. Now... for the after affects.

We had a total of 16 inches in our yard, but as you can see the wind drifted the snow and we have piles as high as 3 feet. Right now my DH car is buried and I am so NOT going to shovel it out! Another day at home.

I believe if you click on the images you can see it better.

What is celiac disease?

2009-03-26T10:27:00.003-06:00

Ive had many people ask about why i'm now gluten free. What it means, what happened etc. Here is a neat video about it.

I haven't had the test for Celiac disease, but i had all the symptoms and once gluten was removed ive seen improvement.

Its coming... The big one!

2009-03-26T08:49:00.003-06:00

Usually every year, us folks here in Colorado get 2 or 3 HUGE snowstorms. This year has sadly been lacking. We just had 2 fabulous weeks of tank tops and shorts, even playing in the water! BUT......

Today the big one is coming. Randy just called me from Denver and said its already dumping hard and fast up there, and its moving south quickly!!!

We are so lucky, we live on the Palmer Divide, smack dab on top of it... so when it snows, we get it worse than anyone in our county!!

Today we woke up to just a little taste of whats to come, ole man winter doesnt want us to forget he had 6 more weeks with that groundhog! LOL.

More Lessons from God - The Simple Life

2009-03-16T13:39:00.003-06:00

My pastor seems to be preaching to me! He has started a series (*link to series of sermons) of preaching thats based on Psalm 46:10 Be Still and know that I AM God.

Be... Still and know that "I" am God.

This sunday my pastor asked us to take a moment and think of the things in my life that get in the way of my relationship with God. (stuff, events, things). Here is my list.

My own thoughts.
Television
Unwisely used Computer time (addicted to griddlers, need to figure that one out!!)
Shopping at Walmart
Volunteering way to much (MOPS, PTO, Girl Scouts)
Clothes
Coffee (do i really need to go buy coffee before every bible study? Waste of time)
Books
Shampoos (im addicted to buying them all, i love shampoo)
Foods: cookies, candies (Though my lesson is now certainly learned as i now have celiac disease and can no longer enjoy those)

So.. im thinking... how do I simplify? How do I change all these things to not be an obstruction to my relationship, but maybe to be a indicator of my relationship with God...

Here is what I learned:
1 - Have a Heavenly vision. What? Okay, I need to change my eyes and how i see things and see beyond myself. Okay, Now I need to think.... Volunteering, How does Girl Scouts help strengthen my relationship with God? Well I'm reaching out to girls who need a good role model. Am i a good role model to them though when I strain myself trying to do everything else? PTO, do I really need to be the only box top mom? No, I should either get help, or reconsider.

2. Simplify my calendar - Remove the clutter, stuff that is not redeeming. Okay, no PTO! LOL, I am overbooked, running here, running there. Randy comes home on the weekends and all we do is run errands. I spent a moment really thinking about all those "errands" and realized that 3/4 of them were totally unneccessary!! God is a God of Detours, I need to open up space in my life to allow Him room to move in it.

3. Simplify my stuff - okay, thats easy, spring cleaning time!!! But more than that, Pastor Eric said " Memories are more valuable than stuff" WOW. That instantly got me thinking of that WII, or the new Jeep in our driveway. What could we be doing with our family, creating memories if we spent more wisely? Could we take a trip to the sand dunes (been waiting 5 years for that one)? The pastor gave some great points... I just had to write down:

a) shun anything that distracts your heavenly vision.
b) buy only what you need)
c) consider borrowing (not credit!! no... rather than buying a snow blower, see if your neighbor will let you borrow it... and you let them borrow your leaf blower, all parties are happy)
d) reject anything that causes an addiction (wow... theres where that coffee comes in!)
e) reject the gagetry of the modern age (that unnecessary claim of having big tv's, new phones etc)
f) give it away. (yup, spring cleaning time! but not just for garage sales, donate....)

4. Simplify my relationships - Now, this one I said WHOA! Im going to be closer to God by not having relationships with others? Thankfully the pastor cleared my head up. "its not about quantity, but about quality" Suround myself with relationships that can help me build my relationship with God.

So... What things are getting in the way of YOUR relationship? Can we simplify more so that we can just BE? Im certainly giving it a try...

Catching up.

2009-03-04T14:17:00.003-07:00

I have fallen into a depression, and with that comes the big word "PROCRASTINATION". I have let way to many things fall behind. I know I'm not suddenly healed, or better, but I know that if I push myself to catch up, I wont feel so bad about my surroundings. Your environment can affect how you feel.

So here is my list of Catching Up:
*Get those Girl Scout Cookies out of the house
*Keep work tasks done and completed ahead of time
*Clean the sink 2x a day for a few days (its that bad, hate steel sinks)
*Cook 40 pounds of chicken in a week for MOPS
*Complete behind week layouts for ScrapGirls 52
*Take a photo a day NOW
*Show up for Parent Teacher conferences
*complete bible study homework this week
*begin waking up at 5 am again and continue personal study of Jesus
*quickly come up with an activity for Girl Scouts tomorrow
*keep hanging in one step at a time

So... I'm going to do it, get caught up and stay current on things I need to do. Here is one of my list tasks started:

Products used from scrapgirls.com: Happy Family Collection Biggie; ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501; Lettering Delights Underwood Pica Font;

Valentine Sugar

2009-02-12T17:31:00.002-07:00

Girls came home today with bags of Valentines and Candy. I am so proud of both of them, they were willing to share with zoey. I got lots of great pictures of all 3 girls eating "fun dip." Zoey did the cutest thing, she started to read the ingredients and proclaimed what was in the fun dip. Here is video i took of her!!

Zoey talks about Sugar from Angela Nussbaum on Vimeo.

Zoey got ahold of sisters fun dip Valentine candy. She started to tell me what the ingredients are...

Lessons from God - part 1

2009-02-03T12:24:00.004-07:00

One thing I am learning as I walk with God is that His lessons are never ones you would expect.

Recently things in my home and around me have fallen apart. Literally! One thing after another is breaking down. Does this mean I live in a disaster? Not at all. My home is one of pride for me. One of joy.

Lesson 1 : Contentment

I enjoy learning how to be content with my home and after the 2nd break down (water heater then closet) I thought God wanted me to learn even further contentment. Why would breaking things mean contentment? That is because I walked into my Husbands home, then fiance, with distaste in my mouth. The thought of lowering myself to live in a trailer was awful, but I looked at myself as a martyr for sacrificing myself for him. What a horrid way for me to think. He felt it, he heard it, he saw it... my disgust. My poor dear husband, I am so sorry! Then he got a job where he was not home for 2 weeks at a time. During his periods away, I was being changed by God. God was showing me, telling me that what a blessed person I am to have a home such as I do. A safe haven. A protector for my family. My husband did not see this change.

So when the water heater broke down, and it was my almost nagging that made him check on it. He was sure that I was rubbing in what a trash of a home we have. Oh, he was fustrated, so angry at me. I tried so hard to be nice, to be extra helpful, not quite sure what was making him angry. My works were against me. Everything I did only worked further against me. He saw it as me rubbing it in. God finally showed me a time where I could show him my hurt and speak to him. My husband told me how I made him feel. I was so aghast at myself. That my cold curt comments from over 4 years ago still hurt him.

I pray: "God, please help me to show him the growing contentment you continue to nurture within me. Please also help me to learn how to communicate with my husband, as easily as I can talk with you. Thank you for this lesson learned."

Time for a change

2009-01-27T17:23:00.002-07:00

My blog has been so bright and cheerful for so long, it needed a change. The funny thing is? all those flowers, the butterfly... its sooo NOT me. I love earthy colors such as browns and greens, and I love being muted. That brightness was getting to me.

So I have started to change my blog to reflect me! Hang in as this might take a day or two, but It shall be done by Friday. Will you come see it on Friday and give me your honest opinion?

Yours,
The Nut

Word of my year - BE

2009-01-13T14:16:00.006-07:00

Ever since reading Mandy's Blog post about Imperfect (here) I have tossed and tossed word after word though my head. What a great idea. Rather than say "lose weight" or "stop yelling"... to just pick one word and focus on it for the year. Finally, today, 13 days into January I found my word: BE

Just BE

Slow down and BE

Less do, more BE

Why BE? It started because I am over extending myself. I do this, and that, bible studies, mops, discipleship class, girl scouts, pta (pto), babysitting, more and more and more. My life is so much about doing, but i need to just BE. I need to slow down and feel things around me, experience things. I need to stop doing a hundred church related things in a desperate search to experience GOD. How am i supposed to know him, when i am so busy? I need to just BE.

I don't know how im going to do this. Some epiphanies will find their way into my brain. But that is my goal this year. BE.

Be happy
Be with God
Be a mom
Be a wife
Be silly...

Products used from scrapgirls.com: Life's Canvas Collection Biggie; Assemble Your Own Zoom Pages - 4x6: Life's Canvas; Dress Up Word Art Mini; Pin It Up Word Art Mini; ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Sketch It PS 8501

52 layouts in a year.

2009-01-12T16:25:00.006-07:00

I am one of the masterminds at scrapgirls.com who came up with Scrap Girls 52. We (myself, Becca and the SG team) came up with a way for our members to do something like Project 365, but in a way that did not feel so overwhelming. A way that would be more forgiving if you say... got crazy and forgot to take a picture. While we are trying to take a photo a day, our main goal is to get 52 layouts done. You should check it out:

Scrap Girls 52 Thread

Here is the first week of January.

Products are from ScrapGirls.com: 1 Scrap Girls Refresh Collection Biggie (FREEBIE); Yesterday's Child Collection; The Secret Collection Mini'; His and Hers Collection Biggie; ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates - Layered: 12x12 Album Series 5

What is Love?

2009-01-05T08:16:00.006-07:00

Ephesians 5:25 - Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it
Titus 2:4 - that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children

I have just learned what LOVE really is. Its not an emotion of passion, yearning, and joy. Its instead an ACT. If God commands husbands to love their wives, and he instructs women to learn to love their husbands, then it cannot be an emotion.

I get the weekly newsletter from Dr Gary Chapman, and he went over this. And its TRUE. I have spent the last week coming to my husband in a new way. I know his love language is acts of service, so he has come home to a clean house, home cooked meals, even his work clothes washed (ugh). The joy it brought him for me to do those simple things for him is indescribable.

I honestly will admit that I was worried about us. We have gone through so much since November, and I was so scared he was starting to hate me (My issues with the fact he was divorced, deep down Im afraid he will do the same with me, gotta get past it!). Instead, with my small selflish acts, he is now responding to me in a new way. I can almost cry right now thinking of it. I feel more LOVE from him now then ever before.

Wives - Learn to love your Husbands!!!!!

Get Dr Chapmans newsletters here: http://www.fivelovelanguages.com/

Christmas and Vista

2009-01-01T19:58:00.006-07:00

Its been a bit since I last posted, my apologies. Believe it or not i have been actively communicating with hundreds of people in December. I was the email contact for some games that were going on at ScrapGirls. I had quite a blast. (though i wanted everyone to win badly!)

Anyways. Right now im frustrated with Vista! I downloaded CS4 trial to see if it will run with my computer before i purchased it. When i tried to install, it would not because Vista Service Pack 1 was not installed. So i tried to install it. I keep getting this awful error that is barely documented ANYWHERE on microsoft or the net. All i can find is lots of other people are in my place but that Microsoft has now answers.

So.. ugh. Im sitting back. Looking at my Monchhichi! YES i have one! When i was about 5, that is what i got for Christmas, a great story to be told later. But my dh remembered and he got this doll for me! Gotta love my Dear Husband! He is just too good for me sometimes. Anyways, im looking at my Monchhichi (he needs a name.. how about Walnut!) and I thought "walk away." I think i was getting all to stressed trying to figure this whole vista thing out. So lil Walnut has spoken!

(see how nutty i can be?)

Drugdery and Creativity

2008-12-08T11:34:00.005-07:00

I keep seeing my blog and keep thinking. I need to post something. Most of you know through the message board at ScrapGirls.com that i recently lost my grandmother. I think I am doing fairly well with my grief. But what has really had me out of it is the fact that I am once again sick!

This is the 3rd time this winter that i have fallen sick. I am just astounded! I get mini colds, and maybe one bed ridden physically sick illness a year. But this year ive been badly sick 3 times.

So. Hang in with me. Im here, hiding, feeling guilty about the fact i have not updated in so long!

:)

Here is a layout i did recently to amuse you! I didnt have a red-nosed deer in my stash, and I wasnt too interested in the one at ScrapGirls (mind you its a VERY cute one, just not what i was looking for right then) So.. i thought why not make one? Im getting very good at making brushes. Ive always been able to sketch and draw in black and white. Color gets me though.. im artistically color blind. Anyways. Here is my little red nose's.

Products used all come from ScrapGirls.com: Christmas Past Collection Biggie ; Basic: Brown Paper Mini ; Merry Memories Paper Solids Mini ; A Joyful Season Collection Biggie ; Make a Wish Collection Biggie ; Lettering Delights Martian Mania Font
Reindeer I created myself!

Advent Conspiracy

2008-11-19T07:16:00.001-07:00

Wow how this is moving, thought provoking. This year is a hard year for Christmas for our family, as was last year. We have already begun to be part of the conspiriacy.

What about you? Watch this....

Refrigerator Box

2008-11-17T07:59:00.003-07:00

This is part of a Story experience, going back to my roots and remembering my stories:

It was summer, hot and boring in the then very small town of Moab, Utah. My mother worked full time, and we were left to our own devices. I was about 8 years old and my sister 6 or 7. One of those summer days my sister and I were playing in a large field near our house. When we got to the far end of the field we found the most wonderful things ever made, a refrigerator box!! While my mother was still at work, we managed to drag the huge thing over the field, across a street, into the house, around the hallway to our bedroom.

Now our bedroom, it was a disaster! We never cleaned it, it would have been my husbands worst nightmare for our kids to have a room like I did. The addition of that box only made it worse! Or maybe better? We had decided to make that box into a fort. But to do that, first we needed to clean up a spot on the floor for it to sit. Once we had done that, we decided we needed to equip our fort with toys and comfortable blankets.

My mom came home that night to find us still in that box. I don’t remember how long, but I know that box lasted for several days and became many things, sky rises, houses, school and even church.

Thinking back, I remember so many days where one little thing entertained us for hours. I know times are different now for my kids, I can only hope that they get a little of my imagination and know how something simple can be awesome!

Dreams

2008-11-05T08:24:00.004-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me how many things Angelique can come up with in regards to what she wants to be when she grows up. Ive had: Mom, Teacher, Truck Driver, Principle, Bagger, Author, Illustrator, Coach... the list just goes on. My most favorite though is when she came home a couple of weeks ago and said "Mom, when I grow up, I wanna be a Scrap Girl." LOL! She went on to tell me how my job is the best job in the world. How whenever I sit down to work, I am always happy. And how sometimes I laugh at the computer. She made me realize, hey, I really am blessed to have such a wonderful job.

Here is my future Scrap Girl. This photo was taken 3 years ago, when she was 3.

Supplies used all at www.scrapgirls.com: ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Creative Expression, ScrapSimple Alpha Templates: Chip, UPPER Case 2, ScrapSimple Alpha Templates: Chip, LOWER Case, Well Loved Embellishment Biggie

Scrap Girls Rap

2008-10-11T14:23:00.001-06:00

I know this is the second you-tube video ... but im up here in Salt Lake City at the first every DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING CONVENTION!!!!!

Lots of fun!

Ninja Cat

2008-09-29T21:23:00.001-06:00

A friend posted this on facebook, and its just to die for! My girls watched it over and over!

Spiritual Gifts

2008-09-13T19:43:00.004-06:00

Yesterday I took a test that my pastor sent to those of us who were attending a women's luncheon and discussion on spiritual gifts. When I took the test, I was absolutely confident that the results would show that my gift is either Serving or Giving. Why? Because I give myself like no other, I serve like crazy everywhere, and I give anything I have to others in need.

I was completely floored when the results said my gift was Mercy. "NO!" my head shouted, that is not right! Now, dont get me wrong here, I am an extremely sensitive person. I empathize with others easily, and my heart can feel exactly what they are in any given moment. The problem is, I can not communicate. On ScrapGirls.com so many put up prayer requests, and upon reading them, my heart is sad, broken and I have genuine concern for them. But I cant begin to write that... I just dont know what to say. So, is that Mercy?

Upon reading this description further, it goes on to talk about how those who have Mercy as a gift tend to feel concern more with the person than the reasoning. That Mercy people want to minister by "being there" when others really need them, while others are concerned about why, what, when or how. OKAY, now I am starting to get it. That sounds MUCH more like me.

But what about those other gifts I was so sure I had? I mean, gosh, I volunteer and love it, I give and love it. After talking with a group of ladies at the luncheon I know have it! Most of the things I volunteer for, or give for, are things I'm actually first thinking of that person emotionally. For example: Last year our bible study got wind of a lady who's husband left her and the kids with no money, and only the house. She had no job as she was a stay at home mom, and Easter was coming. Everyone in the study brought in food and Safeway gift certificates. Me? What did i bring? I dug into my case of brand new girls clothes and gave her daughters some new clothes and outfits they could use for Easter. Upon digging deeper I realized, my concern was her as a mother feeling sad that on Easter she couldn't do an Easter outfit. My thought was how I would feel as that mother, and rather than food, I gave to fill a possible emotional need.

So, on conclusion, I feel like Mercy really is my gift at this time. And that God has given me Service, and Giving as a method of fulfilling my Mercy gift.

What an eye opener today has been. Praise God, for he gives each of us truly wonderful gifts, we only need to see them, understand them, and not let them go to waste!

Angela

Silly Mom

2008-08-22T09:24:00.006-06:00

I was waiting patiently at the checkout in Wal-mart when I saw it. A can of silly string. My first thought was to buy it and attack the girls when they got home from school. My second thought was about how I dont have time to play games. My third thought was that I need to do more fun things with my girls. So I bought it.

Zoey and I had hid in the hallway, ever so quiet, as we heard the gate open, and shut.... a foot step on the stairs and .........

Broken

2008-08-16T09:38:00.005-06:00

Driving home on Monday night, a conversation with my 2 1/2 year old daughter.

Thankfully the 1/2 moon became full and she was very happy that night because someone glued it!

Heights

2008-08-05T12:25:00.005-06:00

I am deathly afraid of heights! So much so, that at times its a chore to even stand on a stool! My dear family just does not understand.

Though I do have to say, there is nothing more exhilarating in life than challenging your fear and go for it! There is such a natural rush of adrenaline, excitement, and fun. Just be careful how you go about challenging it.

About a week ago, my girls, myself and my mother in law, decided to go to the "North Pole". They get to brag about having the "highest" Ferris Wheel in the world. Course the thing is sitting on the side of a mountain! My mother in law was not one to ride rides, and this one required an adult. Of course I'm such a sweet mom, gotta let the girls experience this ride, right?

Needless to say, I was scared outta my mind! There was also a thunderstorm near by! I wish i had taken my camera up with me!

See me?

Quote Challenge

2008-07-21T09:03:00.004-06:00

This is from my Scrap Girls Quote/Word Art challenge. Where i give a quote, and you do your best to make a word art out of it. Its a great chat that happens every 3 weeks. However, yesterday was my last day with the chat. While I am sure I'll still show up at the chats, Pat Barnes is now the fearless leader! Go Pat!

Products used for layout:
Brandy Hackman's Abstract Expressionism Embellishment Biggie
Brandy Hackman's Assemble Your Own Zoom Pages: Abstract Expressionism
Brandy Hackman's Abstract Expressionism Alpha & Word Art Biggie
Melissa Renfro's Brian Label words (special freebie no longer available)
Brandy Hackman's Tints & Tatters Collection Biggie
Brandy Hackman's RetroActive - All Girl Collection Mini
Thao Cosgrove's Sisterly Collection Mini
Fonts: AMC_Chatty Font, AMC_Doodlelicious Font, Lettering Delights Hen Hand Font and Lettering Delights Painter's Hand Font

A new me.

2008-07-16T19:17:00.008-06:00

I did it! I cut that hair! That long, glorious mane of golden hair! It took a bit of work for my dear husband to give the okay. But alas he did! I have measured the braid cut off, 13.25 inches! All going to locks of love!

Here is a before, after and braid picture.

Thats such a bad before.. ugh!

Thats the braid!

There I am! Dont I look purty with my curls?

**(I updated this thread to include the layout I did of my new hair)**
Products used for layout:
Amanda McGee's Fruit Smoothie Collection Biggie
Amanda McGee's Fruit Smoothie Embellishment Mini
ScrapGirls Lettering Delights Hen Hand Font
Shalae Tippetts Dynamic Brush Set: Basic Stitching 4901 Biggie
Amanda Sok's ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Metallic Stitching 6401 Super Biggie

Memory Lane Blog Game!

2008-07-16T17:00:00.000-06:00

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!*

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses.

If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

*I reserve the right to delete any offensive, mean, untrue, embarrassing, incriminating, unflattering, humiliating, this makes me look like a dork, etc. comments ;)

Bring me peace...

2008-07-11T21:03:00.003-06:00

The last month has been one of... the weirdest experiances of my life!
*First, suddenly, out of the blue... the microwave just died on me ...
*Second, my vacumn then died on me
*third, my phone deceided that i no longer needed a speakerphone or a bluetooth ear piece.
*fourth, my computer did a simple update, and it almost crashes and i can no longer use firefox
*fifth, i almost dropped out of my bible study as im only on chapter 4 and they are on chapter 11 &12!
*sixth, my windshield cracked again (jeeps, gotta love em)
*seventh, i went through a pregnancy scare (ive got 3! lol)

But those and other things... i took in stride. Kept remembering Ro's new thing "blessings" was doing a good job keeping my head up high, tinkered with the microwave, got a part and it works. Vacume works (have no clue what i did, but it does), found an alternate way to use speakerphone... and on and on... i wont let it bring me down!

But today... I needed milk... im coming into the house, with 2 gallons, and 2 bags of groceries... and... i step... down... on a ... toy ... car... and all i feel is my ankle going out from under me, and actually touching the ground. I have ended up with one of the worst sprained ankles of my life! It hurt so bad, i was laying on the floor crying, and my girls (blessings they are) put the groceries away.

Want to know my blessing from this?

Im resting with peace.

For the first time in months, ive slowed down and with a bad ankle have forced myself to rest. Forced myself to let go that i couldnt make a "perfect" dinner.. cereal! haha... God has opened my eyes this evening to some real peace, that there are times when i just need to slow down and enjoy my family.

Here is a treat for you....

James 1: 2-4
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Fireworks and the 4th of July

2008-07-07T15:20:00.004-06:00

The 4th of July is always a special time for our family. It seems its one of the few holidays where we can simply be just a family. We always start the day off with the Parade in downtown Monument. Its a great parade, and pretty cool for such a small town. Then we head home for a little siesta before we pack up and head up for a day of fun in downtown Palmer Lake. This year most of the events like the street fair wasnt on the 4th. So we ended up grabbing a spot near the playground, and letting the kids swing like crazy. (oh and of course we did stop by the Rock House to get our yearly ice cream cone).

This year i wanted to try my hand at getting some firework pictures. I got ahold of a Sony Mavica DSLR put it on a tripod and used these settings: ISO 100, f8, and on half the pictures a 2 second release, and the other half 7 second release. I like the longer release setting, i got some pretty neat mixes of fireworks.

(the second one is pretty neat. Look at those stars, those are fireworks!!)

Teen at 7?

2008-07-01T20:16:00.005-06:00

Apparently I am not the only mother experiencing this phenomenon (as i found out in a ScrapGirls.com Chat). Why is it our little girls go into kindergarten and come out worrying about who is their best friend, and how much Hannah stuff they have? Then they go into first grade after a summer of trying to help them get back onto the right track, and all they learn is how they have power, and they can push and prod till they get what they want. WHAT??? My 2 little girls are already acting like teens! Angelique wants to have makeup, my tomboy Sabryna wants to have complete power and control. Its amazing!

This is a picture of me trying to get them to behave (in a fun way of course). Notice the spiffy jacket? and the little grin in the back full of attitude? LOL

I just pray and pray, that God will lead them, guide them. Because try as I may, I am not doing a perfect job. Please God, watch over my little girls. Let them be little girls awhile yet. Guide them gently into becoming women of strength and character. Amen.

Missing again!

2008-06-30T11:55:00.005-06:00

I do have to say, maintaining a blog is not the easiest thing in the world! LOL. It has been a month since i last posted. Its not like nothing has been happening, so much has. I just keep letting other things pull me away. Im reminded of that email chain that goes around every so often, the a.a.a.d.d poem:

Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder
Recently, I was diagnosed with A. A. A. D. D. - Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:
I decide to water my garden. As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide my car needs washing. As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mail box earlier.I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can under the table, and notice that the can is full. So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first.

But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills first. I take my check book off the t able, and see that there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke
that I had been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold. As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye - - they need to be watered.

I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table. I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers...

Now I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:

-the car isn't washed,
-the bills aren't paid,
-there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter,
-the flowers don't have enough water,
-there is still only one check in my check book,
-I can't find the remote,
-I can't find my glasses,
and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.

Don't laugh - - if this isn't you yet, - - your day is coming!

So, gotta really begin to use this PDA that i got last month. Its supposed to help me be organized. Do I look organized yet?

changed my desk

2008-05-24T09:26:00.003-06:00

I have had my new laptop since February. Its WAY more powerful than my desktop computer. It took me almost a month to move everything over. I was nervous! I have never been completely on a laptop. It seems so fragile, risky to do everything from the laptop and get rid of the tower. Well... My back has been hurting, my wrists have been hurting, everything. It was time to unhook the keyboard and the mouse and the monitor from the tower.

What a difference it has made. (well keyboard would not hook up to the laptop as its too old! apparently i need a usb keyboard! haha). I have my laptop set up as multimonitor. Yes! Both those monitors are output from the laptop. Its really a neat method. Maybe dh can get me another monitor that we can mount up in the space above the laptop.. hmm... oh Randy.....

Dont Give up

2008-05-23T22:06:00.004-06:00

I really want to do this blog! Things are so hectic, and i feel like it gets put at the bottom of the pile.

My middle child is in Gymnastics and she has been trying so hard for the last few months to not give up. To keep trying. Its hard for her, and i see that. She is such an entertaining girl. She wants to play with the others, make them laugh, and have them like her. I try to help her to understand that if shes not serious, then we have to find another thing for her to do, something she likes. She is trying. She really is! If she can keep going, so can I!

Here are some photos from her exhibition that she did this last Wednesday.

I Spy Quilt

2008-05-16T20:08:00.001-06:00

My Quilt By My Fabulous Secret Pal - ScrapGirls Message Board

On Scrapgirls.com we were having a few rounds of SecretPals (like secret santa). It was a great way to spoil another person, and be spoiled. If you follow that link, you will see this awesome quilt my secretpal Ann made for me. Thank you so much Ann.

Blue Pansy

2008-04-25T09:32:00.003-06:00

My 2 year old helped my Girl Scouts with a plant project. She very carefully colored her pot with a red maker, then with extreme and delicate care pealed the sticky off the stickers and applied them to her pot. I was amazed to watch her, at how these 5 and 6 year old girls have been such a influence on her. She adores the Daisy's so much! She can even dance the Princess Pat.

Dont hit with a noodle

2008-04-24T14:07:00.003-06:00

A while back, at my sunday bible study, we discussed the book of James. This particular Sunday, the teacher decided to show us how even God uses postive reinforcement and how it really works. One person, was chosen to leave the room. Then the teacher explained to the class. The man was to walk in a certain path, pick up a paper and give it to someone else. Every time this man did the right thing, the teacher would ring his keys. The man came in, and with in just a few short minutes he completed the entire task!

Next, A second man volunteered. He stood outside the room as the teacher told us this time, the man had to simply walk straight to another man and shake his hand. Thats it! No path, no obsticles, this man was straight from the door. This time however, when the man walked in, he was hit with a noodle everytime he did something wrong. The poor guy had no clue what was going on, he was just being beaten and beaten. He ended up running across the room alot to get it to stop! He never got near the man to shake his hand.

How many times I myself get stuck hitting ppl around me with a wet noodle? Alot! But now when I am yelling at my daughter to clean her room, or my oldest to get her homework done. I really see myself as taking a noodle and hitting them with it.

My challenge to you is to use the keys! Show them positive enforcement when they have done right. Its amazing the change you will see.

Go clean your room.

2008-04-16T12:08:00.002-06:00

I learned something yesterday, and have been amazed at how it works! Instead of saying to my girls "Go clean your room," I tell them, go pick up your books. Or go pick up your toys. The first time i told them, has been the only time! The theory comes from when your husband comes home and wants you to clean the living room. Well, I feel like its clean, the way i want it. But its not to his expectations, I feel upset because i dont know what he wants from me. Well, little ones can feel that same way. So I tell my girls my expectations "Please pick up the toys from the floor" and they know what I want! (as with most parenting skills i pick up, i hope this works for awhile... )

Been to long.

2008-04-15T21:21:00.003-06:00

Has it really been since December 31st that I last posted? WOW.

I just ran across some photos, that i just have to share. It was the end of a long day, i had just taken out Zoey's ponytails, and had walked away for some reason or another. To come back and see that Randy has been letting her drink Diet Dr Pepper out of the bottle. While i didnt think that was the best thing. I just had to take some pictures!

ScrapGirls.... Where are you at?

2007-12-31T13:00:00.000-07:00

Just use the map below, put a pin where you are! So we can see!

Weekly List of Challenges Dec 9th - Dec 15th

2007-12-20T20:31:00.000-07:00

Remember, these are all listed on ScrapGirls.com on the messageboard!

Challenges with links for the week of 12-09 to 12-15

Monday
Ruralscrapper - Reflections
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17874

Tuesday
DDecker- Freebie Challenge
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17910

Thursday
Scrappylibrarian – Are you in the picture?
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17974

Friday
angelaNussbaum – Customer Submitted Challenge (Not done this week, look for it next week. Sorry)

Saturday
AngRoCamp – Color Challenge
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=18069

Other Chats/Crops (I cant say that any downloads are still available. They are first 100 or 7 days, but try!)

12/12 – High Noon Crop (Betsy)
(Topic was: we'll do a holiday memories challenge! Create a layout about your favorite holiday memory! Can be from your childhood, or from your children's (or pet's!) perspective, or a favorite winter recipe, etc.)

12/13 Sketch Challenge (laurellakey)
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17989

Weekly List of Challenges Dec 2nd - Dec 8th

2007-12-20T20:28:00.000-07:00

Remember, these are all listed on ScrapGirls.com on the messageboard!

Challenges with links for the week of 12-02 to 12-08 Monday
AngRoCamp – Gift Reactions
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17586

Tuesday
DDecker- Freebie Challenge
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17632

Thursday
PBarnes– Take Time for yourself!
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17742

Friday
angelaNussbaum – Customer Submitted Challenge (season of change)
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17786

Saturday
AngRoCamp – Color Challenge
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17803

Other Chats/Crops (I cant say that any downloads are still available. They are first 100 or 7 days, but try!)

12/2 – Quote/Word Art Crop (AngelaNussbaum)
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17556

12/4 – Life Moments (scrappylibrarian)
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17424

12/5 – High Noon Crop (Betsy)
(thread was not started. Topic was: black and white photo challenge! Create a layout using only black-and-white photos!

Weekly List of Challenges Nov 25th- Dec 1st

2007-12-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

Challenges with links for the week of 11-25 to 12-01
Remember, these are all listed on ScrapGirls.com under the Challenges thread!

Monday
DDecker – "surprise" photos
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17350
Tuesday
crs – Freebie Challenge (download this fast!! It's only available for a few days)
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17375
Thursday
ruralscrapper – scrap someone that you cannot see the full facial features
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17437
Friday
angelaNussbaum – Customer Submitted Challenge (stocking tradition)
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17484
Saturday
AngRoCamp – Color Challenge
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17536

Other Chats/Crops (I cant say that any downloads are still available. They are first 100 or 7 days, but try!)

11/25 – Scraplift Crop (TysMommy and AngelaNussbaum)
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17321
11/28 – Desktop Crop (angelaNussbaum)
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17424
11/29 – Sketch Crop (sprinklz)
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.ph...st&p=286321

Weekly List of Challenges Nov 18th - Nov 25th

2007-11-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

Challenges with links for the week of 11-18 to 11-24

Monday
Sprinklz – Toot Your Own Horn
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17158

Tuesday
ruralscrapper – Freebie Challenge (download this fast!! It’s only available for a few days)
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17183

Thursday
angelaNussbaum – find inspiration with a children’s book cover
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17246

Friday
angelaNussbaum – Customer Submitted Challenge (colors)
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17265

Saturday
ruralscrapper – Color Challenge
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17282

Weekly List of Challenges Nov 11th - Nov 17th

2007-11-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

Challenges with links for the week of 11-11 to 11-17

Monday
CRS – I dare you Challenge
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=16914

Tuesday
Movie Star – Freebie Challenge (download this fast!! It’s only available for a few days)
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=16936

Thursday
TysMommy – They say it’s your Birthday!
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17072

Friday
angelaNussbaum – Customer Submitted Challenge (scrap lift)
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17092

Saturday
AngRoCamp – Color Challenge
http://scrapgirls.com.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=17112&hl=

Heres whats happening....

2007-11-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

Every Sunday (or saturday) im going to post the last weeks challenges that were announced on ScrapGirls.com I'll have a link to their actual challenges so you will know what to do.

Hope to see you join in on the fun.

angela

2007-11-12T21:54:00.000-07:00

This is from a psp yahoo learning group. A tutorial by D. Thanks!

Good Morning Again

2007-09-26T10:19:00.000-06:00

The last few days have been very difficult, seemed that the kids were purposley egging me to stress and a bad mood. But turns out it was a woman thing. LOL. Now i know how my mother felt with me and my sister. Forgive me Mom!!

Today im doing a chat on doing Desktops using scraping supplies. Its so much fun. I do it at the end of every month, just in time to get the next months ready. Hope to see a good turnout tonight. You wanna come? Register at ScrapGirls on the message board, and click on the chat link at 9pm est.

My supplies are mainly from ScrapGirls, including those awesome pumpkins. You can get a set of pumpkins, and all kinds of mouths/nose/eyes and you put them together how you want!!! Want some? Look here. With the exception of the background. That is from SP Kristie collection.

School Picture Day

2007-09-25T15:55:00.000-06:00

Well with all my efforts my 2 oldest went to school looking very cute. When they came home their hair was loose and their clothes had markers etc on them. Im praying that pictures were done very early!

I got a great compliment from Sabrynas teacher today. She says my new homework practices with Sabryna are great. She says Sabryna is really taking ownership in her work. Its so hard to not want to help her, or send her to school with her homework all perfect and done. But the teacher said shes in first grade, she needs to learn now. The methods have really helped me be ready for Sabryna when she chooses to do her work! Three Cheers for Teachers!

U. R.

2007-09-24T13:07:00.001-06:00

This is a layout that i just recently did. I got to c0-host a chat @ Scrapgirls.com with one of my wonderful friends. This layout was inspired by Amanda Sok. She is a fabulous designer at ScrapGirls. Okay, can you tell... I LOVE ScrapGirls!! Pretty much anything i do, i use, i buy, i make is part of or revolves around ScrapGirls.

This is my Dearest little Baby. Okay, now she is 2, but this was one of my favorite photos of her. I love how big and glossy her beautiful eyes are. At this time you couldnt see her true colors yet as her eyes were still changing.

Munderings

2007-09-24T09:41:00.000-06:00

Now today is the start. Its very hard to do something where you are putting yourself in public. But I really wanted to do something that would allow family not at home to view what is going on in the world of Nuts.

Although today started out very rough (kids decided to chase the cat into my room at 6am, where myself and sick Zoey were sleeping), its turning out to be a beautiful day. Things have brightened up, and my wonderful husband is on his way to Denver.

Fall is the season that i love the most. And its starts today. With our weather only getting into the 60's, its cool enough and sunny enough to feel right.